66 Community Health Workers graduate from the Community Palliative Care Program

Over 66 community health workers and 14 zone nurses have today graduated from the Palliative Care Program in the Central Division.

The Community Palliative Care Program is a collaboration between the Fiji Cancer Society and the Sangam College of Nursing to help improve the quality of life of patients suffering from cancer in terms of suffering management, and emotional and general support by providing holistic and integrative care palliative.

Fiji Cancer Society Chief Executive Officer Belinda Chan says the society is grateful to have completed the training for community health workers in the different sub-divisions.

Chan adds it is a great milestone achievement for the society and she is glad to have seen this project come to fruition.

She says the Community Palliative Care Program training has allowed them to strengthen their relationship with the community health workers in terms of providing care to clients who are not only diagnosed with cancer but also with chronic diseases.

Chan acknowledged the support of the Women's Fund Fiji through a sustainability Grant for the implementation of the project and the Sangam College of Nursing for the technical support and the wellness team at the Ministry of Health and Medical Services for the continued support.

Rosi Ravono a representative of the Community Palliative Program Facilitator says the college is always grateful to support the work of the Fiji Cancer Society.

She says the Sangam College of Nursing appreciates the fact that the Fiji Cancer Society initiated a discussion with them to help develop and deliver the program successfully to the community health workers.

Women's Fund Fiji Executive Director Menka Goundan says the CPCP Program effectively addresses the issue of the lack of support provided to patients' holistic recovery and longevity, particularly associated with the lack of resources, knowledge and expertise around caring for palliative care patients.

She says congratulations to all the graduating community health workers and thanks them for showing their interest in the program as well as extending a helping hand to provide the much-needed care for patients with the late-stage illness.

The Community Palliative Care Program training in the Central division was administrated by the community health workers and zone nurses from Suva, Nasinu, Rewa, Naitasiri, Tailevu and Serua/Namosi subdivisions.