Member Spotlight: Healthcare Professionals’ Emotional Wellness Initiative (HPEWI)

HPEWI is a registered non-profit organization in Kenya, established in May 2024, and is committed to providing comprehensive wellness programs which foster emotional stability, empowerment and resilience to healthcare providers in Kenya. We are CPD-accredited by the Nursing Council of Kenya to offer wellness programs for nurses and are looking forward to gaining accreditation from other licensing bodies.

We will be offering our services targeting training medical schools, hospitals, healthcare provider's social gathering. The organization has identified a critical gap in supporting our healthcare workers, particularly those working in the demanding environment of public hospitals. These dedicated professionals often face significant challenges, including high workloads, staff shortages, emotional exhaustion, financial constraints (such as low pay and delayed salaries) and limited opportunities for career advancement. The organization is committed to addressing these issues to ensure healthcare professionals can provide quality care to their patients.

Key Initiatives in the Field of Mental Health & Resilience

Our key initiatives include:
1. Wellness education through bi-monthly virtual sessions via Zoom.
2. Interactive learning: workshops and seminars focused on well-being, promoting workplace mental wellness where we will be visiting healthcare facilities and meeting HCP at individual levels.
3. Team cohesion: team building activities and support groups.
4. Mental health support
5. Employee assistance programs
6. Skills enhancement: establishing skills lab for practical training
7. Resource provision: facilitating access to advanced technology and equipment
8. Community engagement: organizing regular medical camps in collaboration with Community Health Promoters.
9. Research and innovation: supporting HCP in their research endeavors.

Common Resilience Practice Regularly Followed by your Team

1. Focusing on strengths and celebrating small wins. We celebrate milestone of the organization which helps us build morale to run the organization despite the limited resources.
2. Cultivating positive relationships and social connection.
3. Practice gratitude. We appreciate positive aspects of our work and this builds emotional resilience.
4. Peer support and debriefing - we share our experiences, challenges in a non-judgmental space.

Aspirations as a member of this Community of Practice (COP)

Our aspirations are to contribute to and benefit from collective efforts aimed at enhancing the well-being and resilience of healthcare professionals (HCP), particularly within the Kenyan context, which HPEWI understands so well. Some of the key aspirations include knowledge exchange and learning, contributing to contextualized solutions, building collaborative partnerships, advocacy and raising awareness, contributing to research and innovation, mentorship and support, as well as personal and professional growth.

Are there specific aspects of the TRC community that you find most rewarding or enjoyable?

Being part of the TRC community is rewarding, it offers a celebration of shared success, rich opportunities for mutual learning and growth, a shared sense of impact and purpose, and a vibrant exchange of diverse perspectives.

Do you have any tips or advice for new TRC members?

TRC should explore the community platforms and resources and be open to different perspectives. As a community, it is a space for learning that enhances the resilience of healthcare providers, which in turn contributes to building a stronger healthcare system.

Is there anything else you'd like to share with the TRC community?

HPEWI is truly excited to join this vibrant community. The challenges faced by our healthcare heroes are significant and building resilience isn't just a matter of individual well-being but also a fundamental to the strength and quality of our entire healthcare system. I believe that by coming together sharing our diverse experiences, our success and even challenges we can forge truly impactful solutions. The knowledge and expertise within this community are invaluable and we are eager to learn from each of you.

Avenues to Partner with HPEWI

We at HPEWI are enthusiastic about forging partnerships that align with our mission to enhance well-being and resilience of healthcare professionals in Kenya. Areas of collaboration to make a meaningful impact includes:
1. Joint program development and implementation
2. Specialized initiatives that address specific challenges like burnout prevention, mental health support and leadership training.
3. Financial sponsorship to enable us to develop and deliver our programs, expand our operational capacity and reach more healthcare professionals in need. the opportunities exist for specific programs, establishment of skills lab resource centers and general operation costs.
4. Grant funding collaboration where we jointly apply for grants from foundation and other funding bodies that support HCP well-being and mental health initiatives.
5. Knowledge sharing and research partnerships through joint publications and presentation

To learn more about HPEWI and our work, please view our website: www.hpew.org or contact our chairperson WAIRIMU KARIUKI (info@hpew.org, wairimukariukirn@gmail.com)
LinkedIn- Healthcare Professionals' Emotional Wellness Initiatives.

If you or your organization like to be featured on this spotlight series or you’d like to nominate someone, please write to us:  TRC.Community@georgeinstitute.org