The African Palliative Care Association (APCA) in collaboration with Global Partners in Care (GPIC) in the USA offers each year APCA Nursing Scholarships for palliative care training opportunities.
APCA and GPIC acknowledge the significant role that nurses and social workers play .n providing comprehensive palliative care services for persons with life-threatening and life-limiting illnesses and their families.
Despite this, there is still a problem with the inadequate integration of palliative care into pre-service (undergraduate) training for nurses and social workers, the absence of clear career pathways for those who want to specialize in palliative care, and the lack of recognition of palliative care credentials by local ministries of health and education.
The goal of the Palliative Care Education Scholarship Fund for Nurses and Social Workers is to give nurses and social workers who are involved in providing palliative care or who are committed to take the lead in developing such services in their settings the chance to pursue specialized training. In Africa, palliative care is an expanding field of practice, and nurses and social workers sometimes feel unqualified to handle the intricate problems it entails.
Any accredited school of higher learning in Africa that offers palliative care training is able to accept students who are interested in the Palliative Care Education Scholarship Fund for Nurses and Social Workers. Examples include: Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care in Africa/Hospice Africa Uganda, Mildmay Uganda, Nairobi Hospice/Oxford Brooks University in UK, University of Malawi and University of Cape Town in South Africa.
For social workers, education can also take the form of a fellowship or experiential learning from a facility like a hospice or program for palliative care with well-established social work services. A recognized hospice and palliative care institution will administer such a fellowship, and APCA will confirm qualified programs with the national palliative care association and/or ministry of health.
With this Fund, training opportunities are anticipated to improve the attitudes, values, methods, and sensibilities required to engage effectively in palliative care with patients, families, medical professionals, and the community. APCA UK has joined GPIC this year to make a donation to the Scholarship Fund.
APCA Nursing Scholarships Benefits
Awards:
- Five (5) scholarships for nurses
- Four (4) scholarships for social workers
Depending on the degree of study, scholarships’ duration and quantity may vary, but they cannot total more than $2,000 USD.
Depending on the course of study—a formal class or hands-on training at a hospice—this sum will change.
APCA Nursing Scholarships Requirements
- Qualified nurse or social worker with a degree or diploma residing and working in Africa. Other specialties (doctor, clinical officer, etc.) are not eligible for this scholarship.
- Has obtained a place on a diploma palliative care course in an institution in Africa recognised by APCA. You must already have secured acceptance to a program of study to be considered for a scholarship.
- Currently licensed in nursing or social work, where applicable
- Able to obtain full support from your place of work to undertake the course
- Able to serve your institution of work for at least one year after completion of the training
- Able to legibly complete the application
- Willing to provide thank you letter, video testimonial, or Zoom interview with GPIC and APCA in support of future fundraising for the scholarship fund. Please note that preference may be given to applicants who are in their final year of study.
How To Apply
The appropriate scholarship application form is available online. Qualified applicants should download it, fill it out, and send it to the appropriate email address: scholarships@africanpalliativecare.org.
You can also drop off or send filled-out paper application forms to the African Palliative Care Association at P.O. Box 72518, Plot 95, Dr Gibbons Road, Kampala, Uganda, by courier.
For more information about the African Palliative Care Education Scholarship Fund, please email scholarships@africanpalliativecare.org.