African Palliative Care Education Scholarship Fund for Nurses and Social Workers 2019

Applications are open for the African Palliative Care Education Scholarship Fund for Nurses and Social Workers 2019. The Palliative Care Education Scholarship Fund aims to provide an opportunity for nurses and social workers involved in palliative care provision or those determined to lead the development of such services in their settings to undergo specialist training.

The African Palliative Care Association (APCA) in partnership with Global Partners in Care (GPIC) in the USA provide a limited number of scholarships each year for palliative care training opportunities. APCA and GPIC recognise the important role nurses and social workers play in providing holistic palliative care services for people with life threatening and life limiting illnesses and their families. Despite this, the inadequate incorporation of palliative care into the pre-service (undergraduate) training for nurses and social workers, the lack of clear career pathways for those interested in specialising in palliative care and lack of recognition of palliative care qualifications by local ministries of health and education continues to be a challenge.

Training opportunities through this Fund are expected to enhance skills, knowledge, attitudes, values, methods, and sensitivities needed to work effectively in palliative care with patients, families, health care providers, and the community. This year, APCA UK has joined GPIC to contribute towards the Scholarship Fund.

Contents

African Palliative Care Education Scholarship

USD 2,500 each for nurses
USD 1,500 each for social workers. This amount will however vary depending to the option of study, either formal course or experiential learning at a hospice.

African Palliative Care Education Scholarship Eligibility

Open to a qualified nurse or social worker with a degree or diploma residing and working in Africa;
Has obtained a place on a desired palliative care course in an institution in Africa recognised by APCA or a hospice recognised by the national palliative care association or Ministry of health for social workers who apply to undertake experiential learning.
Currently licensed in nursing or social work, where applicable;
Able to legibly complete the application;
Able to obtain full support from place of work to undertake the course;
Able to serve the institution of work for at least a year after completion of the training;
Willing to provide support towards future fundraising for the scholarship fund. This may be in form of thank you letter, sharing experience through articles, video testimonial, or skype interview with GPIC and APCA.