Education, along with spreading and sharing of knowledge and know-how of Palliative Care, gained through hands on experience during the past 13 years, has a priority role in BHT’s initiatives. These activities are done under the banner of Rotary Indiranagar- BHT Center for Palliative Care Education. They include:

• The Health Assistants Training Programme.
• Seminars and workshops.
• Cardiff University’s Post Graduate Palliative Training Programme.

1.The Health Assistants’ Training Programme

The Bangalore Hospice Trust initiated this programme with a dual purpose -

• An acute demand for trained persons to look after patients at home
• To address the need to do something meaningful to help young girls from low socio economic backgrounds to improve their knowledge and skills thus giving them an earning capacity.

The programme has been successful. We have completed training 13 batches. Our growth plans include increasing the batch sizes progressively.

In order to meet the infrastructure requirements for the increased batch sizes, expansion of the current facility was planned and commissioned in December 2007. The new facility houses 2 additional dormitories and allied facilities for the Health assistants. The expansion cost for the facility was planned and met through specific donations.

1.1 How the Programme works

Women from the lower socio-economic groups, between the ages of 18 to 22 are trained as Health Assistants. Once trained the Health Assistant are either employed in the hospice or are deployed as care-givers to families who need such assistance.

At the moment BHT trains batches of 15 to 25 Health Assistants every 6 months (a single course runs for 6 months). The entire course is rendered free of charge and this includes training – theory and practical, food and lodging. A monthly stipend is also paid to each trainee.

At the end of the training program, the health assistants attain a holistic level of competency which can benefit the needy patient and their families tremendously. On the medical front, they are able to give total nursing care to the patient, including tube feeding, catheter care, and dressings, observe vital signs, and identify emergencies. They are also trained in skills like basic communication, house keeping, and basics of finance management etc, which prove to be an asset to the patient’s family. From the health assistants’ point of view, the training equips them with the necessary skills to get employment in clinics, hospitals and Nursing homes, thereby improving their opportunities to improve their lifestyles. On completion of training the Health Assistants are absorbed as full time employees at Karunashraya. Some are placed in homes to cater those who have individuals needing nursing care.

2.Seminars and workshops

Topical seminars and workshops on basics of palliative care and communication skills are conducted regularly throughout the year. Students of Master in Social Work, Counselling and Nursing visit Karunashraya for understanding palliative care.

3.Cardiff University’s Post Graduate Training Programme In Palliative Care

The Cardiff University UK has been running a Post Graduate Diploma and M Sc programme in Palliative Medicine for the past 20 years. In parts of the world where opportunities for educational advancement are scarce, the Palliative Care programme seeks to play a vital role in yielding educationalists of the future. Graduates of this programme, in many regions of the world, have established local networks and have been catalysts for change both within their own setting and, by partnership working, within the wider environment. The cascading of knowledge has enable graduates to improve care standards for cancer, HIV/AIDS and other life-limiting diseases across their region/country. These developments have contributed to the creation of best practice standards both at local levels and in the wider palliative care community in their own countries.

In short, the educational programme in Palliative Medicine/Care aims to:

• Develop specialist knowledge of palliative care practice;
• Improve communication skills in key areas;
• Develop reflective clinical practitioners;
• Promote team-building abilities; and
• Empower Palliative Care providers to become effective agents for change.

3.1 MOU with Cardiff University, UK

Cardiff University expressed their intention to increase their involvement with the Hospice, and agreed to sign an Memorandum of Understanding with BHT, for a joint programme in Palliative Care. The MOU was signed at UK on May 10, 2007. This MOU has laid the foundation for a long and fruitful partnership between BHT and Cardiff University. BHT will be able to make use of their expertise in devising many short- term programmes (one to three day) for local doctors, nurses and other health care professionals.

BHT will make efforts to inform the target group about the availability of this programme. As the programme is available to doctors and nurses, this gives us a wonderful opportunity to help train nurses too.

This initiative is in line with our endeavor to share our knowledge and also benefit the community at large by creating more experts in Palliative care.

Alumni of the Cardiff programme have gone on to play a major role in establishing palliative care in the country. Many of them head prestigious centres such as Cipla Hospice (Pune), Institute of Palliative Care (Calicut), Palliative Care Department at Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (Chandigarh), A H Regional Cancer Centre (Cuttack), Cancer Centre (Dibrugarh) etc.

With the teaching staff of Cardiff University visiting Karunashraya regularly, we will be able to add value to some additional courses being conducted here at Karunashraya. The benefits of such a collaborative effort will certainly increase in the years to come.