When Samuel was asked why this scholarship was so important to him and other nursing and social work students in Africa, he replied:
The trained practitioners can bring down the provider-patient ratio to accord more patient accessibility and reach all vulnerable populations in need of palliative care in Africa. The economic, political, sociological and cultural reasons hamper palliative care delivery and require advocacy to reverse the trend. Poverty compounds delivery of quality palliative care. Palliation and symptom relief remain the only realistic treatment option for patients with life limiting illness in Africa as it strives to protect quality of life and not quantity of life through provision of quality palliative care. The scholarship is of great value to nursing and social work students in Africa.
As part of the mission to expand the availability of hospice and palliative care in Africa and globally, the U.S.-based Global Partners in Care created a scholarship program in collaboration with the African Palliative Care Association to further the knowledge and skill of African nurses and social workers in the provision of palliative care.
Since the scholarship’s start in 2011, 33 clinicians (nurses and social workers) from Kenya, Tanzania, Nigeria, South Africa, Malawi and Cameroon have benefited through formal training and/or attending conferences to enhance their knowledge and skills in hospice and palliative care.
Learn more about the work of Global Partners in Care.
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An Opportunity to Double a Gift to the Scholarship Fund
The 2016 Scholarship Fund campaign is going on right now and through the generosity of a legacy gift made by Rebecca (Becky) McDonald all donations made by September 5, 2016 to the National Hospice Foundation in support of the Scholarship Fun will be matched 1:1 up to $15,000.
Becky McDonald was a pioneer, leader and a friend to the global hospice and palliative care community. She helped pave the way for hospice care in the U.S. and was committed to helping advance hospice and palliative care in Africa.
The National Hospice Foundation is leveraging Becky’s generous legacy gift to help other nurses and social workers in Africa – just like Samuel.
Secure donations may be made online at NHF’s website.
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