African Palliative Care Nursing Scholarships 2023 for Nurses and Social Workers in Africa

The African Palliative Care Association (APCA) in partnership with Global Partners in Care (GPIC) in the USA, provides a limited number of scholarships each year for palliative care training opportunities.

Application Deadline: 22d March 2023.

Eligible Countries: African countries

To be taken at (country): Any African country

About the Award: 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.

The Palliative Care Education Scholarship Fund for Nurses and Social Workers 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. Palliative care is a growing area of practice in Africa, and nurses and social workers often feel unprepared to deal with the complex issues it encompasses.

The Palliative Care Education Scholarship Fund for Nurses and Social Workers can be taken in any recognised institution of higher learning offering palliative care training in Africa. 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, study can also be in form of a fellowship/experiential learning from an institution such as a hospice or palliative care programme with well-established social work services. Such a fellowship will be undertaken from a recognised hospice and palliative care institution and APCA will verify eligible programs through the national palliative care association and/or Ministry of Health.

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.

Type: Training

Eligibility:

• 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.

Level/Field of study:

• Diploma, degree or master level studies in palliative care. For degree and master level studies, those in the final year of study will be given preference.
• Social workers can also undertake clinical fellowship/experiential learning.

Number of Awards:

• Five (5) scholarships for nurses
• Four (4) scholarships for social workers

Value of Award: Scholarship amount and duration may vary according to the course of study but shall not exceed $2,000 USD

Duration of Programme: This amount will vary depending to the option of study, either formal course or experiential learning at a hospice.

How to Apply: Eligible applicants should download and complete the relevant scholarship application form available online and submit to the relevant email: scholarships@africanpalliativecare.org. Filled in hard copy applications forms can also be sent through courier addressed to or dropped at the African Palliative Care Association, P.O. Box 72518, Plot 95, Dr Gibbons Road, Kampala, Uganda.

For more information about the African Palliative Care Education Scholarship Fund, please email scholarships@africanpalliativecare.org.

• GOODLUCK!

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