In the Fall of 2023, Dr. Richard Nkambi at Olmoti saw a need to help homebound, chronically ill patients. He organized a two-week visit in January by a hospice specialist, Dr. Caperna, MD, from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD).
During a hospital visit, Dr. Caperna saw an Olmoti patient with end-stage cervical cancer, a young 37-year-old mother of four who was in constant pain even after surgery and maximal chemotherapy/radiation. She was not able to receive morphine as the Olmoti clinic was not trained to use IV morphine. The Olmoti team was there when she received her first dose and witnessed the remarkable calming effect of the drug. This event reinforced the simple importance of having morphine treatment available to Olmoti patients. “No one should die in pain without morphine—at least offering it,” Dr. Joseph Caperna said.
On his return to San Diego, Dr. Caperna contacted colleague Dr. Browne with Specialists in Global Health (SiGH). SiGH provided the funding for specialty training to administer morphine to patients. Tiba shufaa means “palliative therapy” in Swahili. “Hospice” has no exact translation. The closest translation is “healing therapy.” In Africa, there is no difference between hospice and palliative care. Both terms refer to helping patients who are suffering from life-threatening illnesses. This training has allowed the Olmoti team to provide effective pain control for patients in hospitals, as well as for over 40 patients a month at home.
