Page 24 - Tata-Trusts-Annual-Report-2021-22

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Upskilling Oncology Specialist Nurses to
ramp up cancer care in India
With India experiencing a marked increase in the incidence of
cancer cases in the recent past, ramping up healthcare and
palliative care infrastructure for the treatment of various types
of cancer has become crucial. At the same time, a paucity of
adequate human resources, especially the shortage of trained
nursing sta has slowed progress in this direction.
Tata Trusts’ first-of-its-kind Nursing Fellowship Programme
(NFP) to upskill Registered Nurses (RNs) as Oncology Specialist
Nurses (OSNs) aims to plug this crucial gap, which provided
both Shaik Salma and N. Syamala with exactly the kind of
professional fillip they were looking for.
Alumni of the Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences
(SVIMS) in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, both Salma and Syamala
were lucky to find professional breaks soon after graduation.
While Salma was invited to work in SVIMS’ Radiation Oncology
Department, Syamala was placed in the Medical Oncology
Department of her alma mater.
After acquiring considerable experience working as junior
nurses for six years, both found openings at the Sri
Venkateswara Institute of Cancer Care & Advanced Research
(SVICCAR) to further advance their nursing skills by undergoing
training at the Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH), Mumbai.
Based on a public-private partnership model, SVICCAR has
been set up in collaboration with the Alamelu Charitable
Foundation (ACF), a Tata Trusts’ associate organisation set up in
2017, to transform cancer care in India.
3 GOOD HEALTH AND
WELL-BEING
PROJECT ALIGNS WITH SDG
17
HOPE
Syamala and Salma became eligible for the Trusts’ nursing
fellowship as they had already been a part of SVICCAR’s
ongoing Cancer Care programme. The free-of-cost fellowship
helps selected nursing sta develop specialised knowledge,
skills, and experience in Oncology nursing. The experience
proved valuable, allowing the participants to advance their
clinical skills for e ective use in SVICCAR’s cancer care unit.
Salma is now a part of the team that set up the inaugural
Radiation Therapy Department at SVICCAR, and says, “The NFP
programme has been great for my professional development as
trainings are provided by experts in the field. Learning
objectives are achieved through assignments, case
presentations, and participation in health talks. I have now
gained experience and confidence as a senior sta nurse to be
able to help my juniors.”
A certified Palliative Care Nurse from the Indian Association of
Palliative Care, Syamala feels privileged to
be working at SVICCAR, which has been
instrumental in her career growth
providing her new pathways to learning.
She says, “I received special training on
how to use a chemotherapy port needle
and feel confident about practising my
skills in the day-care centre. I have also
been trained to provide counselling and
health education to my patients.”
Nurse N. Syamala attends to a
patient in SVICCAR’s cancer care
day-care centre