Dr Ramaswamy Akhileswaran
CEO & Medical Director of HCA Hospice Care

“Getting the scholarship is like winning something big unexpectedly. I will use this opportunity to hone my knowledge and skills. The learning and interactions during the programme with international leaders from the non-profit sector will definitely stimulate my thinking. This will also help me to look at ways to advance the mission of HCA Hospice Care and more importantly, contribute more to the social service sector in Singapore.”

A specialist in Radiation Oncology and Palliative Medicine, Dr Akhilesh joined HCA as its Medical Director in 2001. He assumed the position of CEO in 2007.

HCA Hospice Care runs three main programmes: Hospice Home Care, Hospice Day Care and Caregiver Training. It runs the largest hospice home care service in Singapore, looking after 75% of all the hospice patients in the island.

Comprising a doctor, nurse, medical social worker and volunteers, the HCA home care team looks after patients who have a life-limiting illness like cancer or any other end-stage disease with an expected life expectancy of one year or less. These patients are seen in their own homes by the home care team. The home care service is free of charge to all patients. HCA looks after more than 800 patients at any given time.

The Day Care centre is for similar patients who are relatively well and symptom-free. They are transported to and from their homes to the centre for physical and psychosocial rehabilitation. They spend the day at the centre doing group exercises and other activities. Patients are charged $15 per visit but this may vary based on a means test. The charge includes the transportation, food, activities and medical consultations when needed.

The caregiver training is aimed at helping the caregivers cope physically and psychologically with the care of patients at home. The training is conducted in two 3-hour sessions every week at our satellite centres.

Dr Akhilesh was instrumental in turning HCA around financially salvaging it from the verge of closure. He is especially proud of the “Hospice into the Community” programme that was implemented in 2003. Four satellite centres were set up around the island to increase the visibility of hospice care in the community. Regular training sessions were also started for doctors and nurses. The student education programme was set up in 2004 to help primary, secondary and tertiary students interact with the elderly sick in the community and, to date, more than 16,000 students from 60 educational institutions have successfully completed this programme.

Mrs June Tham
Executive Director, Rainbow Centre

“I feel grateful and elated to be awarded this prestigious scholarship by TOTE Board. Learning is a lifelong experience and the Harvard Business School SPNM programme will give me invaluable insight into core management concepts for development of creative strategies, to manage change in my organisation and the social service sector. The rich and dynamic exchange among course mates from around the world will be invaluable to my professional development.“

Mrs June Tham has devoted 26 years of her life to the education of children with special needs. She is also serving on specialist committees such as Panel of Advisors to the Family & Juvenile Court.

Mrs Tham joined the Margaret Drive Special School as its Principal and Executive Director in 1989, The school came under the umbrella of Rainbow Centre in 1992 when the latter was founded.

Rainbow Centre (RC) is a voluntary welfare organisation with a mission to enhance the quality of life of children with special needs through education and training to enable them to achieve their fullest potential. Today, RC runs two special schools, an early intervention programme for over 700 children with autism spectrum disorder, Down’s syndrome, cerebral palsy, developmental delay and multiple disabilities aged 2 months to 18 years. In addition, it runs a Training and Consultancy Unit to develop and conduct training courses for parents and professionals, and a Family Support Group Programme for families of children with special needs.

Mrs Tham was instrumental in the growth of RC by developing two purpose-built special schools, expanding the early intervention programme to serve more children, and starting of the Training & Consultancy Unit to train teachers, professionals and parents. She also co-authored / co-edited three publications on special needs to raise funds for Rainbow Centre and promote greater awareness on special-need issues.

With the benefit of the Tote Board scholarship, Mrs Tham hopes she will be able to draw from her experience with special-need children to do more for the social service sector.