From East Africa: Leading global change in palliative care

All over the world nurses work with seriously ill patients and their families, often in significantly under resourced conditions, difficult geographies, and within diverse cultural contexts. How can these nurses be supported to optimize their relational work in serious illness? In this episode, Erin Das, a Canadian-trained advanced practice nurse based in Nairobi, Kenya, explores the challenges and strategies for supporting nurses and healthcare workers who care for seriously ill patients in under-resourced, geographically challenging, and culturally diverse settings. Erin’s work is deeply rooted in palliative care, drawing from her experience in pediatric palliative care, pain and symptom management, cancer care, kidney support, health education, and community development. As the practice head at the Global Treehouse Foundation, Erin focuses on improving access to care for seriously ill children and their families. She is also the supportive care lead at Africa Healthcare Network, the leading dialysis organization in sub-Saharan Africa, and an Executive Member of PallCHASE (Palliative Care in Humanitarian Aid Situations and Emergencies). Currently, she coordinates a Project ECHO Community of Practice program that provides palliative care training for humanitarian healthcare workers in East Africa. With experience in Bangladesh, Papua New Guinea, and Kenya, Erin provides valuable insights into the importance of communication training and support for healthcare workers, emphasizing how these efforts must respect the cultural beliefs, languages, and practices of both health workers and the communities they serve. For more information visit: radicalnursetalk.com