Nairobi, Kenya, Dec – AmaniHoiva, in collaboration with Maasai Mara University, graduated its 1st Health Care Assistants (HCA) Cohort.
The graduation ceremony marked a significant milestone for AmaniHoiva, the students, the university, and the Finnpartnership program.
Kenya’s population aged 65 years and above of Kenya increased from 2.1 % in 1973 to 2.9 % in 2022, growing at an average annual rate of 0.65%.
With these ever-increasing numbers, the government of Kenya has put some measures in place to ensure the elderly live with dignity as they age since they become vulnerable.
Through intergovernmental partnerships like with Finnpartnership, a program funded by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and managed by Finnfund, has been a vital supporter of the project aimed at training Health Care Assistants in Kenya.
The program, initiated by AmaniHoiva Kotihoito, focuses on bringing Finland’s best practices in healthcare to Kenya, addressing the need for accessible and affordable healthcare, particularly for the elderly and chronically ill.
“We have been working to set up a diagnostic centre in Nairobi specifically for the elderly who are most vulnerable in society. As a result of bridging the healthcare gap today, we successfully graduated 50 students who have undergone through a one-year fully funded training program to enhance their skill set in caregiving at Masaai Mara University.” said Faisa Egge, Founder of AmaniHoiva.
Faisa added that, ‘’The training program involved the development of a curriculum reviewed and approved by key stakeholders, including TVETA and the Nursing Council of Kenya. Lecturers from Finland contributed their expertise to ensure international best practices were integrated into the training. ‘’
The success of phase one would bear fruits for phase 2.
The pioneer class would also secure employment at the diagnostic centre set up in Nairobi City, which will be the centre of their operations, that would later be cascaded to other cities and towns through technology-assisted doctor assistance.
With Business Partnership Support from Finnpartnership, AmaniHoiva chose to review and enhance the current curricula in training nurse aids in different colleges in Kenya.
“We have established many collaborations and partnerships with other institutions for research. And programmes.A case in point is with the finish Government who have sponsored our 38students taking health care assistants (HCA) course with the pioneer group graduating today,” said the Acting Vice Chancellor Prof. P.Aloo-Obudho, Maasai Mara University.
He added that, “the first cohort of the training was for one year; based on the success of the program, there is the need to extend the program and even scale it up as the need for quality caregiving is very much needed in this country
Beyond technical training, the students also got the chance to visit the elderly at the community level to provide access to affordable and quality health care in the confines of their homes, therefore assisting the government in the achievement of universal healthcare.
This collaboration between AmaniHoiva, Maasai Mara University, and Finnpartnership provides students with alternative educational opportunities and contributes to the development of home care assistants, addressing the community’s healthcare needs.
