College of Medicine and Health Sciences in collaboration with Creative Professionals has hosted a 3-Day training for midwiferies and doctors on ‘How to deal with growing maternal-child mortality’ at its premises from 22nd to 24th April, 2019. Click here to see the pictures

The trainer-of-trainers, Dr Monika Mueller Sapin, Health Advisor from Switzerland, imparting training, said, this cost-effective and efficient training is available for all nations where neonatal and maternal mortality is high. And it’s proven that medical simulation isn’t done with a patient but with mannequins for it is safe, you don’t harm patient rather gain skills and work in a team with better level of communication.

Further, she said, I am teaching how hands-on situation of medical simulation can be administered for a normal delivery; the reasons causing mother-child mortality are postpartum hemorrhage, preeclampsia and eclampsia, so they are taught how manually; placenta can be removed and even using vacuum extraction, etc. 

The trainer adds, resuscitation with bag and mask must start when baby isn’t breathing a minute after its birth that’s called Golden Minute; if a baby isn’t breathing after stimulation than we have to resuscitate it to save life. And these midwiferies in turn will replicate such trainings in their respective health centres and posts situated in interior areas for they are capable, skilled and smart enough to train trainers.

The founder of consultancy firm, Creative Professions, Feven Haddis, said, we bring potential western health professionals to Ethiopian universities, in AMU for the first time such training is organized. The purpose is to empower health professionals attached to health and hospital set-up in Arba Minch so that increasing maternal-child mortality rate is arrested. 

Having hosted such trainings in Addis Ababa, Mekelle and other universities, I would emphasize that many Western universities are keen to provide such trainings and we are here to build bridges between Ethiopian universities and western health professionals. Therefore, it’s a pilot project in Ethiopia, which might take the shape of a bigger one in next year, Feven Haddis adds.

AMU instructor, Fitsum Wolde, said, I have learnt a lot including emergency obstetrics, helping especially baby with breathing problem that needs resuscitation and mother when she is undergoing complications. Major cause for maternal mortality is postpartum hemorrhage and it begins with uterine atony that leads to bleeding, laceration, retained tissue or placenta and we are taught how to deal with it. I have also learnt how to handle vacuum, which is important during delivery.

We are taught about Preeclampsia, a condition that can develop during pregnancy characterized by high blood pressure and protein in urine, if not properly managed, it can progress into eclampsia that is defined as the development of seizures in a woman with preeclampsia. As a trainer, she said apart from class lecture, I expose my students to the practical aspect in the hospital.

Meseret Worku, the head of midwiferies in Arba Minch General Hospital, said, having had three years of experience, I have learnt about emergency obstetrics, postpartum hemorrhage, preeclampsia and eclampsia. She admits now she can manage resuscitation and stressed that such training is imperative for health professionals and periodical updating will continue to equip them with required skills.

Eight midwiferies, Ayelech Kunde, Sikela Arba Minch Health Centre; Habtamua Andarole, Netsanet Dawit, Shimiyas Mesele and Mistir Girma from Arba Minch General Hospital, Meron Muhidin, Sikela Health Centre and Eateferew Kuma from Secha Health centres with two AMU instructors Fitsum Wolde and Bezawit Afwork participated in the training.
(Corporate Communication Directorate)