Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
The Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital Employee Assistance Program (EAP) was established in 2013 in recognition of the importance of promoting mental health within the workplace. Healthcare workers play a pivotal role in delivery of services within health facilities and the community. Mental health challenges among healthcare workers can have a profound impact on their productivity, and their ability to offer health services to the public.
The EAP program serves as a tool to reduce risks of:
1. Mental Health disorders
- Depression, anxiety, and burnout
- Emotional distress affecting concentration and productivity
2. Substance Use
- Alcohol and drug abuse affecting job performance
- Workplace accidents caused by impairment from substance intoxication or withdrawal
- Increased healthcare and disciplinary issues
3. Workplace Conflict & Relationship
- Poor communication between staff or with supervisors
- Bullying, harassment, and interpersonal conflicts
- Toxic work environment leading to low morale
4. Productivity & Performance
- Reduced efficiency and poor quality of work emanating from mental health challenges
- Presenteeism (being at work but not fully functional)
- Increased errors and missed deadlines
- Absenteeism
5. Financial Stress Risks
- Employee distraction due to personal financial problems
- Fraud or unethical behavior due to financial pressure
6. Occupational Health & Safety
- Increased accidents due to stress, fatigue, or substance use
- Poor adherence to safety procedures due to mental health challenges or substance use
- Risk of injuries and compensation claims
7. Family & Social Risks Affecting Work
- Marital conflicts, parenting stress, and caregiving burdens
- Grief and loss
A multidisciplinary EAP committee is responsible for overseeing program activities. The current EAP Chair is Dr. Florence Jaguga who also serves as the Director of Mental Health and Rehabilitative Services.
The EAP policy provides guidance on how to handle staff mental health matters. The EAP offers interventions such as health education to staff, capacity building on mental health to senior managers, in-patient and out-patient mental health and SUD treatment, psychological counseling, peer support, home visits, financial education, and linkage to various community supports such as socio-economic empowerment services.
EAP interventions are implemented by the EAP secretariat in collaboration with psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers, as well as staff from other departments such as Finance. The secretariat is run by Joshua Kimutai (a Peer), and Metrine Chepkorir (a Medical Social Worker). The secretariat office is located at ADAR and the secretariat phone number is 0117210483.
The EAP committee further mentors external institutions to establish their own mental wellness programs. The committee is committed to supporting staff mental wellness, addressing mental health stigma, and optimizing staff productivity.