The Rotary Club of Panjim is collaborating with Montfort Academy to establish a home-nursing institute in a bid to cater to the growing demand of home-nurses
NT KURIOCITY
As urban India climbs the corporate ladder, care for the elderly is becoming a challenge. The elders in the house, our parents, grandparents, and even patients needing assistance are often overlooked; due to lack of time.
Other family members may be out working the whole day, living in another city or country. It’s a daily challenge to ensure our loved ones are in proper health be it the BP that needs constant checking or medicines that have to be consumed regularly.
Imagine having a helping hand at this time. Imagine having someone who cares? It is with this thought that an Institute of Home-Nursing is being set up. The Rotary Club of Panjim is collaborating with Montfort Academy to establish a Home-Nursing Institute. The objective of this course is to train young minds to work as caregivers for patients and the elderly. “Aging is a natural phenomenon and the population of people above 70 years has doubled in the last four decades and it will continue to grow. It is time we create a system to tend to their needs,” says Nester Sequeira of Rotary Club Panaji.
The course aims to train young minds in a career to help families in need of caregivers. This includes monitoring BP, checking sugar levels, giving medicines on time, providing assistance to walk, and more. The idea is to ensure that the elders continue to enjoy an independent life and spend quality time with their families.
“All of us would like those twilight years of our lives to be as wonderful as the years gone by. But there is a severe paucity of trained people to provide this nurturance required to go through these late years,” says the director of Veejay Facility Management Pvt. Ltd, Vijay Gopi and a major sponsor of the program. Students availing of this course will also be trained to address mental health concerns and offer support to such patients.
Montfort Academy in Goa, of the Montfort Brothers of St. Gabriel, is offering the course; both as a one-year and a six-month program, each designed to address a specific need. While the one-year programme will be more extensive, offering insights into nursing techniques; the six-month course; a non-formal certification by Montfort will tend more to palliative care to those who may need assistance due to age-related challenges.
The course can be availed by students even from financially challenging backgrounds and to those who have not pursued education above Class 12. “The idea is to provide a noble career opportunity to the lesser privileged children. Hence the cost is also minimal,” says the principal and director of Montfort Academy Brother Prem
Montfort Academy in Goa has been working to skill young adults with minimal education for gainful employment. Currently, they have multiple courses that help provide jobs in large companies. The home-nursing course is an on-campus course along with food and hostel facility.
Independent reports point out that over 15 million elders live alone in India. A sizeable portion of them live in Goa and care-giving to the elderly is thus a high-paying job opportunity. At present, there is a severe shortage of qualified, well-trained, and efficient home nursing attendants. “The employment opportunity is huge. Our aim now is to reach the students, so that they can apply,” adds Nester.
The home-nursing programme (one year) is certified by Human Resource Development Foundation under Ministry of Skill Development – Government of Goa. The course curriculum will include theory and practicals along with an internship at hospitals for students to get hands-on experience. This will combine with holistic training to include values, ethics, and human touch to make it a viable career path.
The course fee of Rs 1,25,00 covers tuition, books, uniforms, hostel, and exam fees. There is also a loan facility available for deserving students.
“Our first batch will have 20 students, most of whom will need financial assistance,” says Brother Prem.
(Details: 9545004320/2285524/ https://www.montfortacademy.ac.in/homenursing)
Featured Events
Carpe Diem Art Gallery, Majorda, will be hosting ‘The Artist Acquaintances 2024’, a weekly artist camp cum group art exhibition till November 30.
The Waves International Short Film Festival (WISFF) will be held from December 6 to 8 in Panaji. As part of this festival, short film submissions are invited from emerging filmmakers and industry professionals. The deadline for submission is November 3. Entries are also invited for the 60 Hours Film Challenge, which will be held from November 25 to 28, 2024. Details: +918080696872.
Featured Blog
Fontainhas – Goa’s Latin Quarter
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The Goan Fish Tales
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Whirlpools, crocodiles, and more. Find out what the life of a fisherman is like.
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Azulejos- Tiles, Thoughts and Art
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Chorizos- The King of Sausages
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An eco-farm with thrills and adventure for the first time in Goa
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Traditional sweets of Goa
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A sneak-peek into life in Goa decades ago
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Backpacking Guide: Panjim
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Who says a lockdown should be boring?
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When a fashion designer is in lockdown…
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In-conversation with Subodh Kerkar – Life during Lockdown
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A talk with a lady who creates Beauty out of Waste
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A simpler life is better ~ Literati Bookshop Founder
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A tribute to the cashew
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Beaches in Goa with less crowd
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‘Rediscover Goa’ with Airbnb and experience the true beauty of the sunshine state
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Backpacking Guide: Old Goa
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Tour Goa in a helicopter!
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Goa in 48 hours – For the Adventurous
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Delightful Summer Fruits of Goa
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An unforgettable culinary journey
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The marigold man of Goa
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Goa-based musician ‘Discokid’ to perform at Serendipity Arts Festival 2023
Among the eight exceptional music artists handpicked for the B-side Music Production Residency programme, ‘Discokid’, a Goa-based musician will be performing at the Serendipity Arts Festival 2023. The 11-day workshop concluded in Olaulim recently and was organised by the Serendipity Arts Foundation. The eight artists namely Dzerouengmit Lepcha, Fatima Hakeen (Discokid), Lenix Lobo, Hasan Shahrukh, Govi, Ashel Unger, Rushaki Ghosh and Medhaj Dempo, delved deep into the intricacies of music production using Ableton Live, a digital audio workstation during the residency, which formally culminated on October 20. The residency was mentored by industry experts, including Jay Pei, Megha Balani, SHFT and Puneesh Suri. Fatima Hakeen aka ‘Discokid’ is a musician and producer based out of Goa and has been featured in well-known online music shows like Mixmag Goa and Worldwide FM. Over the eleven-day intensive program, the participants explored a myriad of techniques, from working with audio clips and MIDI basics to advanced production methods, honing their skills and collectively broadening their creative horizons. “Each participant brings a unique flavour to the table: from Dzerouengmit Lepcha’s soulful melodies to Discokid’s groovy beats, Lenix Lobo’s experimental sounds and Govi’s fusion of Carnatic vocals with indie and alternative genres. Hasan Shahrukh, with his expertise in […]
Glow of Epiphyllum – Brahma Kamal flowers of Goa
Recently, I came across a news story about a record-breaking bloom of 28 Brahma Kamal flowers in Goa. The spectacular sight of its prolific blossoms in the video took me on a trip down memory lane. We, too, had this beautiful plant in our garden, lovingly tended by my grandmother. Commonly referred to as ‘Bramhakamal’ in Goa and likely across the country, this plant is scientifically known as Epiphyllum Oxypetalum. Belonging to the Cactaceae family, it is an exotic plant native to the rainforests of Central and South America. Interestingly, it has no botanical connection to the true Bramhakamal species, scientifically named Saussurea obvallata, which is found and revered in Uttarakhand and the Himalayan regions. The slight resemblance between Epiphyllum Oxypetalum and the original Bramhakamal may explain the confusion between the two. Also known as the Dutchman’s Pipe Cactus or Queen of the Night, this flower truly lives up to its regal title. In our garden, this plant held a special place in my heart. Its slightly puffed, elongated leaves distinguished it from the other greenery. The celestial blooms appeared rarely, usually between July and September. One of the most unique aspects of this flower is how it unfurls its […]
