Southern Ethiopia - Gwent Health Link

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Visit Report in Brief - Oct/Nov 2009 by Biku Ghosh

Written by Biku Ghosh

In Yirgacheffe more than hundred people stood in silence to remember former link member, late Dr Roger Pickford, during the ceremony to donate bicycles and other equipment to the health centre. 50 bicycles, donated in the memory of Dr Roger Pickford by the MUSTSE charity, were handed over by the link to the health posts in Wondogenet and Yirgacheffe for use by community health workers. The link also trained 116 Community health extension workers at three health centres in safe and clean delivery as well as care of the newborn in the villages.

Bicycles donated on behalf of Mustse charity

The 4th Motorbike ambulance was donated in memory of Mrs Josephine Rigby to Shone health centre. This will help reduce maternal and child deaths due to delay in transfer of patients at this very large rural health centre serving villages up to 28 km away.

4th motorcycle ambulance donated to Shone Health Centre

The link trained 17 Nurse Tutors from 8 Colleges/Universities and provided CME skills update in emergency obstetrics and neonatal care for 30 midwives working in rural health centres in SNNPR region. Training manikins, pelvises and dolls were donated to these nursing colleges and Universities.

The link also donated essential items including digital BP monitors, ambubags, laboratory materials, cleaning agents and protective clothing to each health centre as well as digital BP monitors to Hawassa Hospital.

Skills update workshop was held for 17 Nurse Anaesthetists from SNNPR hospitals with support from the Mother’s of Africa’ charity.

20 MSc Health Officer students and junior doctors in the hospital attended Acute Life threatening Emergency Recognition and treatment (ALERT) course arranged by the link.

Professor Vishi from the Royal College of Surgeons of England taught anatomy to 280 medical students as well as to the Health Officer’s in MSc Emergency Surgery and Obstetrics course.

The link members worked with the hospital laboratory staff to support development of microbiology, haematology and biochemistry services in Hawassa referral hospital. The link provided reagents, fixing wax and microtomes for the histopathology laboratory.

The link supported with teaching and equipment for MSc in Biomedical Sciences students in Addis Ababa University.

Evaluation and monitoring- Formal evaluation of Alaba, Wondogenet,Yirgacheffe health centres were carried out against agreed exemplar standards. The link also visited Gedeb, Leku and Shone health centre for evaluation.

Beyond health – The link has been trying to engage the SNNPR region in UNDP regional climate change programme with support from WelshAssembly. Through link’s initiative SNNPR region is now member of nrg4sd programme. President of the SNNPR invited the link members to a grand dinner in Hawassa. The links contribution to improving health care delivery in the region was acknowledged by the President and the head of the Regional Health Bureau.

In Yirgacheffe the link members handed over gifts and letters to a local school from a primary school in Abergavenny. The link also handed over donations from Abergavenny church to a local church in Yirgacheffe to help build a primary school.