Health Workforce: Palliative Care Scholarship Fund contributing to Sustainable Development Goals

A trained health workforce is central to palliative and comprehensive chronic care service development and delivery. Yet, the World Health Organisation notes that Africa suffers a major human resource shortage with only 7 African countries meeting the WHO’s recommended doctor-to-population ratio of 10 doctors per 10,000 people. The continent still averages only 2.6 doctors per 10,000 people, and equally high patient-to-nurse ratios.

The African Palliative Care Education Scholarship Fund, established in 2011 through a partnership between the African Palliative Care Association (APCA) and Global Partners in Care (GPIC), awards a number of scholarships for palliative care education opportunities annually. The scholarships support training of nurses, clinical officers, music therapists and social workers to enhance their palliative care skills and knowledge.

For 2023/24 a total of 11 education scholarships were awarded to 9 nurses and 2 social workers from across Africa.  The recipients pursued courses of study ranging from Certificates, Diploma, Post Graduate Diploma, Bachelors and Master of Science in Palliative Care at various institutions within Africa which include the Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care at Makerere University in Uganda, Nairobi Hospice in Kenya, University of Cape Town in South Africa and Kamuzu University of Health Sciences in Malawi.

 Impact stories from three scholarship beneficiaries

Tshepiso Makume, South Africa

Tshepiso Makume is a Registered Counsellor from South Africa working with Lambano Sanctuary, a palliative care service provider who was awarded a scholarship to pursue a Post Graduate Diploma in Palliative Medicine with a specialist in pediatrics. Tshepiso completed her studies in November 2023 and passed with distinction. She graduated at the end of March 2024. In her own words, she notes,

“During my studies at UCT I have been able to meet likeminded people on palliative care, especially pediatrics, where we were able to share to experience covering issues to do with holistic care, holistic assessment of patients, dealing with bereavement, working in a multi-disciplinary team and how to integrate palliative care in health service delivery. My plan is to integrate palliative care pediatric services in Home Based Care services in our institution”

Louis Kuleti, Malawi

Louis Kuleti is a Malawian male nurse working at Machinga District hospital who is studying at Kamuzu University of Health Sciences (formerly known as College of Medicine).  He was awarded the scholarship in July, 2023 which covered tuition fees for the final semester of his BSc in Palliative Care which he completed successfully in December 2023, and graduated in April 2024. He says;

“Undertaking palliative care course helps one to acquire knowledge that will help in identifying and managing palliative care patients well from diagnosis to death and bereavement. It also helps in acquiring problem solving skills that promote team work towards achieving patient care goals. Palliative care course prepares the learner to be self-reliant and build confidence to be a team player by sharpening interpersonal skills”.

Kuleti highlights the following as major achievements from attending the course:

 

“As an individual health care professional, I have acquired specialized knowledge, skills and attitudes toward palliative care which I would not attain if I had not enrolled on this undergraduate program.

It improved my understanding and enhanced my ability to identify patients with palliative care needs, defining care goals and making better care plans to achieve goals that will help in improving the quality of life of patients.

In addition, I am able to advocate for some improvements like supply of essential medicines from the pharmacy at our institution and also advocate or lobby for some patients who have some specific needs to be assisted to meet their individualized care needs.

Currently, at our institution, I am the only palliative care provider who attained advanced training in palliative care, so I am able to mentor some of my colleagues in important skills such as breaking bad news, pain assessment, morphine prescription, etc. so that we improve quality of the service and reduce suffering at the facility.”  

“I would like to thank APCA and GPIC, for considering me as a successful applicant for the scholarship. The scholarship came timely when I had no hope for tuition fees payment. Really, I would not have managed to finish my studies, but it really helped me a lot. Based on this reason, I pray that this scholarship program should continue because it is really helping in improving palliative care service through supporting needy students like me who really need support”. 

Cynthia Mwanchande, Uganda

Cynthia  Mwanchande completed her Master of Science in Palliative Care at the Institute for Hospice and Palliative Care in Africa, an affiliate of Makerere University. She has completed her second year of the course and appreciates the support from APCA and GPIC which enabled her to meet her tuition requirements.

In her own words, Cynthia says that

“It interesting undertaking this course because it is helping me to gain knowledge and skills on caring for patients with chronic illnesses.

I have so far leant how to communicate well with patients who are dying and their families and how to effectively assess for pain and manage it well.

Not only that; I am also able to mentor other staff members who have passion in providing palliative care. I do make presentations to staff members to share the knowledge that I have learnt so far.

The main challenges I faced were sourcing funds to travel to Uganda for my face to face lessons. It is far from Malawi to Uganda and transport is so huge.

Accommodation is also expensive as such I have really been struggling during my face to face lessons. Despite the challenges faced, I have learnt that it is still worthy it pursuing this program. Many people with palliative care conditions are neglected because a lot of health professionals focus on curative care. So it is satisfying to learn this course to make a difference in caring patients with life threatening illnesses.

After finishing this course I will continue teaching others the concepts of palliative care through presentations. I will also continue mentoring other staff at the place where I am working and also staff from other health facilities. I am also planning to take part in research on different areas in palliative care to improve health service delivery”.

The African Palliative Care Education Scholarship Fund is therefore contributing to the strengthening of health systems through palliative care education, ensuring that beneficiaries from all specialties and disciplines have a holistic introduction to palliative care, the intricacies of how it is delivered, its impact on quality of life, and the growing population of patients who need it. Global Partners in Care and the African Palliative Care Association are committed to continue human resource development to improve access to palliative care in Africa. Watch related video from 2024 here.

To donate towards the African Palliative Care Association’s work, please visit our website. 

For information on the 8th International African Palliative Care & Allied Services conference 2025, follow this link.