In partnership with the Ministry of Health & American Cancer Society, PCAU supported implementation of the GHPSI in five hospitals. PCAU Capacity-building efforts empowered oncology nurses and interns in pain management and chemotherapy safety.
The Global Healthcare Provider Support Initiative (GHPSI) in five hospitals, focuses on increasing awareness and strengthening competencies in cancer treatment protocols, pain management, and chemotherapy safety. Following September’s Patient Pain Awareness Month, where hospitals emphasized timely and effective pain relief for children and adults, the month of October was dedicated to Chemotherapy Safety Month. During this period, hospitals prioritized activities that ensured safe handling, administration, and monitoring of chemotherapy medications, recognizing that patient safety is a core component of quality cancer care. Training sessions and focused discussions were held for doctors, nurses, and support staff to reinforce safe chemotherapy practices, including dosage calculations, preparation protocols, infection control, and monitoring for side effects.
Chemotherapy safety is closely linked to palliative care, as many patients undergoing cancer treatment experience significant symptoms such as pain, nausea, fatigue, and emotional distress. By ensuring safe and proper administration of chemotherapy, health workers not only protect patients from treatment-related complications but also enhance the quality of life, a fundamental principle of palliative care. This alignment underscores that palliative care is not only about end-of-life care but is also an essential aspect of supportive care throughout the cancer journey, including during active treatment.
Hospitals continue to use pain awareness and safety posters displayed across different departments. These visual tools serve as checkpoints for staff, interns, and students, summarizing evidence-based protocols for pain management and safe chemotherapy administration. They help standardize care practices, ensuring that patients receive both effective symptom relief and safe treatment interventions, even with changes in staff or rotating interns.
The GHPSI activities in September and October have contributed to improving clinical knowledge, confidence, and collaboration among healthcare teams. Staff members report that their understanding of the analgesic ladder, safe chemotherapy practices, and symptom management has significantly improved. Health workers are now better equipped to assess patient needs, choose appropriate interventions, and provide holistic care that integrates both curative treatment and palliative support. Initiatives like the GHPSI demonstrate the importance of linking cancer treatment safety with palliative care principles, ensuring that patients not only receive effective therapies but also compassionate, symptom-focused care that enhances their overall well-being. As we move forward, continued training, awareness campaigns, and mentorship will be critical to sustaining these improvements across all hospitals and ensuring that every patient experiences safe and dignified care.
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