My Palliative Care Journey

By Palliative Care Clinical Officer Pitty Mugure Mwagiru
AIC Kijabe Hospital, Kijabe, Kenya

Becoming a member of the International Association for Hospice and Palliative Care is not just an achievement for me—it is the realization of a long-held dream. It marks a new chapter in a journey that began with curiosity, grew through experience, and is now fueled by a deep passion to transform lives through compassionate care.

I am currently a third-year student pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in palliative care at Hospice Africa Uganda, under Makerere University. Limited resources meant it took almost a decade to enroll. Today, I am pressing forward—already envisioning my master’s program and beyond.

A firsthand glimpse of holistic care

I was born and raised in Meru, a beautiful community at the foot of Mount Kenya—a place that shaped my values of service, resilience, and community care.

My journey into palliative care began unexpectedly in 2008. During a break from my diploma studies, my neighbor—then an accountant at Meru Hospice—and my mother encouraged me to visit the hospice. That visit changed my life forever. I watched the palliative team not only control pain but also address the emotional, spiritual, and social needs of patients and their families. I joined them on home visits, where I saw firsthand how holistic care could restore dignity, hope, and peace, even in the face of serious illness.

Passion grew & blossomed

That experience planted a seed in me. My passion grew, and soon after graduating from my diploma program, I received a scholarship to pursue my higher diploma in palliative care. Since 2013, I have been privileged to: 

• conduct numerous home visits across communities
• manage patients’ total pain: physical, psychological, social, and spiritual
• provide bereavement support to families
• deliver palliative care training, including continuous medical education to colleagues and students within our institution as well as through: the Kenya Hospices and Palliative Care Association, an ECHO-AMPATH program, and the Palliative Nurses Society of Kenya

Over the years, my work has expanded from direct patient care to ethics, policy development, and capacity building. Working in an institution that fully embraces palliative care has given me both the freedom to innovate and a platform to mentor others.

Aiming high

My dream is clear: to become one of Africa’s leading pediatric palliative care specialists. I aim to integrate my expertise in medical ethics and mentor a new generation of healthcare providers who will bring comfort and dignity to patients and caregivers across the globe.

One smile is everything

My greatest fulfillment is simple yet profound—to put a smile on even one palliative patient’s face, no matter their condition. Every smile tells me that the care we give matters, that dignity is preserved, and that life—no matter how short—can still hold moments of joy.

A new view of how to live 

Palliative care has also transformed my personal life. It has taught me to live one day at a time, to embrace life’s beauty despite its trials, and to value balance in all aspects—social, physical, spiritual, and financial. It has enriched my role as a mother, nurtured my mentoring skills, and deepened my bonds with my extended family.

As I look to the future, I see myself as a global voice for palliative care—inspiring, informing, and influencing individuals, governments, and organizations to expand access and raise the standard of care. My mission is to ensure that no patient, anywhere in the world, is denied the comfort, dignity, and compassion they deserve.

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