Health Workers Urge Increased Hiring and Training for Cancer Wound Care Specialists

Healthcare professionals have stressed the importance of recruiting and educating additional nurses specializing in chronic wound care, especially for patients recovering from cancer procedures and burn injuries.
This follows data indicating Kenya confronts a substantial deficit of nurses in this domain, with each professional attending to 15 to 20 patients daily, far exceeding World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines suggesting a ratio of one to six patients per caregiver.
The recommendation was issued during the second national and regional conference for nurses managing patients with persistent wounds, conducted at Kenyatta University Teaching Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH).
Titled Wound Continence and Enterostomal Therapy Nurses (WCETN) conference, the event assembled specialists in the niche area of chronic wound treatment from throughout Kenya and neighboring regions.
The KUTRRH Director of Clinical Services Dr Anthony Kamau stated that Kenya requires more nurses in this specialized sector to address the deficit and provide optimal patient care.
Observing that the institution primarily functions as an oncology center focusing on cancer-related surgeries, Dr Kamau emphasized that nurses’ contributions to patient recovery cannot be underestimated.
“As an oncology facility, we encounter numerous wounds resulting from cancer procedures alongside patients with severe burns. Consequently, wound care represents a vital service, which is why we maintain specialized wound treatment nurses on a regular basis,” Dr Kamau explained.
He further mentioned that after the hospital’s establishment, it became apparent that specialized nurses were needed specifically for wound managementa critical service that was initially unavailable.
Dr Kamau, who also delivered a speech on behalf of KUTRRH Chief Executive Dr Zeinab Gura, highlighted the necessity for increased government funding toward specialized nurse education and local production of supplies that are predominantly imported.
“We are requesting the government to allocate funds for training more specialized nurses and to support local manufacturing of equipment used in this field, as many items are imported and carry higher costs,” he stated.
Dr Gura noted that the facility employs over 800 nurses, the majority of whom treat patients with wounds resulting from operations to remove cancerous growths.
The CEO additionally emphasized the importance of cooperation among various healthcare organizations and relevant government departments in fostering professional development in this specialization.
According to WCETN conference Chairperson Margaret Mungai, who also serves as Deputy Director Nursing Services at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, there is an immediate requirement to train and recruit more nurses in these specialized areas.
She pointed out that WHO recommends each nurse should manage 1 to 6 patients daily, whereas in Kenya the ratio is between 15 and 20, indicating a significant shortage.
“The WHO reports confirm a serious deficiency of nurses, particularly in specialized fields. This underscores the need to increase hiring and training,” Ms Mungai added.
Justin Kinoti, a senior nurse at the institution encouraged patients to seek treatment for chronic wounds regardless of how advanced or longstanding their condition may be.