Efforts to strengthen links between the health and creative sectors are gaining attention as organisations explore ways to improve professional training, talent development and access to mental health support.
The discussions were at the centre of a strategic meeting between MEMA Africa and Macmillan Medical Training College, with participants examining opportunities for collaboration in knowledge exchange, curriculum development, capacity building and enterprise creation.
The meeting brought together MEMA Africa Executive Director Dr Ezekiel Mutua, Macmillan Medical Training College Board Chairperson Josphat Moses and Professor Fred Ogola.
MEMA Africa Director Erick Binges and members of the organisation’s secretariat, Dennis Maina, JoyGrace Mwangi and Barbara Samba, also attended.
The proposed collaboration seeks to address gaps between professional knowledge and opportunities by equipping healthcare workers and creatives with practical skills, industry networks and platforms for career development.
Mental health support for creatives was also a key focus, with MEMA Africa, supported by Macmillan Medical Training College, launching a hotline for people seeking assistance during difficult situations.
The hotline will provide mental health guidance, emergency assistance, connections to counsellors and mentors, and help for creatives who may be unsure about where to seek support.
The organisations are also exploring joint initiatives in professional training, curriculum development and enterprise creation as part of efforts to build stronger links between healthcare, creativity and skills development.
The initiative comes amid a growing mental health crisis in the country, where workplace stress and inadequate support systems severely affect both sectors.
According to data from the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, about 3.7 million workers in Kenya live with mental health conditions, costing the economy an estimated Sh62.2 billion annually in lost productivity.
The strain is particularly pronounced in healthcare and creative industries; a study by the Aga Khan University Brain and Mind Institute revealed that 43 per cent of Kenyan healthcare workers experience symptoms of depression, while global research shows up to two-thirds of creative professionals struggle with job-related anxiety, burnout, and financial instability
