Rotary International Services Project to Ethiopia
Posted by Don Fipps
on Apr 02, 2015
Del Mar Rotarian Dr. Karin Davies Leads Medical Training Team to Ethiopia
On April 2, 2015, Dr. Karin Davies presented Rotary’s efforts in Ethiopia. During a three-week visit to the University of Gondar College of Medicine and Health Sciences in Gondar, Ethiopia, a five member Vocational Training Team taught local health care providers (including pediatricians, obstetricians, general practitioners, midwives and nurses) to become instructors, and practitioners, of modern neonatal resuscitation methods.
Led by Rotarian pediatrician Dr. Karin Davies, the team included neonatologist Dr. Pat Bromberger, neonatal intensive care nurse Elisa Imonte, respiratory therapist Emilie Jean, and nurse and Rotarian logistics coordinator Fary Moini.
The program is sponsored by a grant funded by The Rotary Foundation under the leadership of the Rotary Club of Del Mar with support from La Jolla Golden Triangle, Valley Center, Blythe, and Rotary District 2770 in Japan. Del Mar Rotarian and ISC committee chair Peggy Martin wrote and is managing the grant with support from Steve Brown LJGT. Host Club in Ethiopia is the Gondar Fasiledes Rotary Club.
The Vocational Training Team at the airport, ready to depart
Upon arrival in Gondar, the Rotary team trained 17 new Neonatal Resuscitation Program Instructors. They then mentored each new Instructor in groups of four or as they taught their first NRP provider class to their colleagues. These new instructors trained sixty-seven additional NRP providers involving all of the disciplines that care for newborn babies.
In all, eighty-four health care professionals were trained as NRP providers (sixteen pediatricians, three general practitioners, twenty-three obstetricians, twenty midwives and twenty- three nurses). These trained instructors are now the “local experts” in neonatal resuscitation.
Thanks to this Rotary Foundation grant, the newly trained Ethiopian NRP instructors now have the equipment, educational materials and support to continue this training program so that many other care providers and students will have a chance to take this valuable training. The goal is to develop a self-sustaining training program in Neonatal Resuscitation and Post Resuscitation Care, at the Gondar University College of Medicine and Health Sciences at the conclusion of the two-year project.
Newly trained NRP Instructors
Dr. Davies administers a clinical scenario
Skills Training using a "Neonatalie" manikin
NRP Provider Class in action
The students were extremely enthusiastic about this training opportunity. In fact, ten additional people arrived unexpectedly for the last training session because of “word-of-mouth” communications about the class. In Ethiopia, most medical training involves lecture. They know the “theory” very well. But chances to actually practice clinical skills with appropriate equipment are rare.
Feedback from the new instructors and students continually emphasized the importance of the “hands-on” practice that was provided. Students commented, “The best part of the training was the skills practice.” “I feel more confident in my skills to resuscitate a newborn.” “I know how to resuscitate a newborn better.” “We want all of our students and practitioners to have this training.”
“It really works,” exclaimed Dr. Kosi, a 3rd year obstetrical resident who had just delivered a term infant by breech extraction. The baby was not breathing and was limp. After applying the initial steps to stimulate the baby to no avail, he immediately began positive pressure ventilation, using the techniques he recently learned in the NRP provider class, and within minutes the baby was screaming. A life was saved using immediate application of skills recently learned! The power of vocational training was taking place in improving health outcomes, one baby at a time.
The team plans to return to Gondar in October 2015 for “Part 2—Post Resuscitation Care of the Newborn ”, to create an additional group of doctors and nurses who will become the local experts in how to care for the ill newborn after resuscitation.
Hands on practice with clinical scenarios
A New NRP instructor demos equipment
Course Director Dr. Bromberger
demonstrates resuscitation
techniques to nurses.
Past President Abiyot of The Rotary Club
of Gondar Fasiledes, receives the flag of the
Rotary Club of Del Mar