Southern Ethiopia - Gwent Health Link

A team of eight from the Southern Ethiopia Gwent Health Link visited Ethiopia between 29th February and 12th March 2008. During this visit the team organized training workshops as well as revisited the exemplar health centres. While more detailed reports will follow in the next few weeks, read a brief summary of the visit.

• 5-day Professional development skills workshop for medical laboratory technicians working in remote health centres.29 attended, some traveling over 800km (for 3-4 days) to attend the workshop. 4 faculty members from Wales were joined by 5 members from the Hawassa College Laboratory science teaching team. The link donated all the participants with text books on practical laboratory science (Monica Cheeseborough vol 1 &2) and glucometers and strips for their health centres.
• On-site training in midwifery and trauma skills as well training in basic computer skills at the three exemplar health centres for 25 nurse/midwives and health officers. The link also donated essential and emergency obstetric, medical equipment including new BP apparatus, microscopes, delivery couch etc. to these health centres.
• In all the three health centres the link arranged joint meeting between its members, health centre staff and community leaders including local Mayor, representative from the local Govt health office, women / mothers group, village elders, religious groups etc. Following detailed discussion about the current needs and situation about the health care for the local population, key members signed a memorandum of understanding between the health link, the health centre staff and the local community to work together to improve health care of the rural population. During this open meeting all three local community and the health centre staff stressed urgent need for help(?motorbike ambulance as in Malawi) with transferring sick patient to the health centre from rural areas as well transfer to hospital. The link members agreed to discuss this with colleagues in UK following their return to try to help.