BLS training at HELP

In April, the doctors, missionary nurses, and some visiting students had classes to teach the nurses Basic Life Support.  This was the first time a course in basic CPR had been offered to all of our nursing staff, and it filled a much needed gap in response to acute care.

After the demonstrations, the nurses divided into three groups to put things into practice.
The following week, they returned for a practical exam.

 You can see a video of the highlights of the class here.

Health Fair- Education part 2

The other educational stations at the health fair were the following:

5. Blood pressure

6. Malnutrition

7. Eye clinic

8. Eye clinic game

For more pictures see Health Fair- Education 2

Health Fair- Education

The main purpose of the health fair was health education. 

There were 8 stations for the employees and their spouses to visit. 

The first 4 were:

1. Diarrhea- prevention and treatment

2. Cakewalk (just for fun!)

3. Malaria- prevention and treatment

4. Leprosy- awareness and treatment

For more pictures see Health Fair- Education 1 

Ebola Preparedness Training

Last Saturday, the nurses learned how to use the PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) sent by Samaritan's Purse.   They split into two groups to practice with Stephen, Millie Deleon, Dr. Kiong Liao, and Lauren Lunsford assisting.  

It was quite humorous to see everyone getting in and out of the suits, but at the same time there was an air of gravity.  Everyone wants to know how to follow the proper procedures in the event of Ebola in Impfondo.

The nurses CME review class

Millie Deleon and Lauren Lunsford planned another review class for the nurses.

Everyone was involved again!

The whole group...

Listening to the Ebola review...

Nurses CME

Our nurses continue to learn!

Millie Deleon and Lauren Lunsford are teaching them with the help of a translator.  In this class, they reviewed some of the information they have previously covered, and talked about low blood sugars.

The foods are examples of what someone with low blood sugar can eat or drink.

Nurses CME

In August, Mille Delion organized a review for several months worth
of continuing medical education classes for our nurses.
It was great to see everyone on our team work together:
teaching, planning the review, helping with the review, or providing supplies.

Millie and Mama Sarah explain how to use the badge size cards of information.

The nurses listening to the explanation of the review activities.

There were four review stations.
Here the nurses are traveling between stations.

Everyone got involved- even the kids!
Isabelle is helping to serve snacks.

Our nursing supervisor, Urbain, quizzes a group of nurses.

Nurses review the proper precautions and treatment of TB.
Christina (at the bottom of the picture) was a trouper.
She was the "TB patient."

Miles helps the nurses review treatment of respiratory illnesses.
Ian was his "patient."

Thinking hard!
There were some tough questions!

One of the prizes earned was a decorated ink pen.

Helping Babies Breathe

Stephen has been teaching more classes for nurses.  After teaching "Helping Babies Breathe" to nurses at our hospital and a church clinic, he had a chance to teach nurses from the surrounding communities and villages.  His description is below:

This is a hands-on learning experience to teach nurses delivering babies in remote areas of the region how to stimulate newborns to breathe.   It is a lot of new material for nurses to learn, and it changes dramatically what many of the nurses are currently doing.

The class was difficult for them because it was based on actions using an inflatable plastic mannequin that simulates babies breathing and heart beat. Their usual type of instruction consists of lectures and note taking, but not much practice. To only do hands on practice without talking was difficult for them.  Another challenge for many of the nurses is that they came from as far as an 8 hour canoe ride to get to our hospital for the training.

(You can find out more about the training at www.helpingbabiesbreathe.org.)

I enjoy equipping these nurses to make a difference in neonatal mortality in the Republic of Congo, and this class in particular is very fun for me to teach.  

One reason is that because of the class structure I was able to get some help from a nurse name Millie Deleon who is working with us for this year.  

The second reason is that by offering this class we were able to build positive relations with our local health department director.

Third, it was fun to able to give out equipment to the graduates that they can take back to their villages to apply the principles that we taught them.  

Finally, I enjoyed it because the funding for me to buy that equipment came from churches in the RMD of the CMA, and they were able to have a part in this training.

Thanks again for all you do in enabling us to be here to touch lives.

Teaching Local Nurses

Stephen was recently able to combine two of his passions- teaching and community health.

He had the opportunity to teach his "Helping Babies Breathe" class to nurses at a local clinic.

Clinic run by the local church
"Elikia" is the Lingala word for "hope."

Prayer at the closing ceremony

Participants who successfully completed the course received a certificate.

The group involved in the course.
The participants who completed the training are holding certificates.

Thanks to Victoria Myers for the photos.

Helping Babies Breathe Class

Survival is hard for children here in the Republic of Congo.  1 out of every 100 babies who are born alive die during their first day.  (For more facts see the State of the Mother Report.)

One problem is that if the baby is not breathing when it is first born, nothing is done.  People usually just wait to see what happens.

Stephen had a chance to teach our nurses "Helping Babies Breathe," a neonatal resuscitation class designed to help save the lives of babies who struggle to breathe at birth.

They come in after work in the afternoon or on a weekend.  Since the class is not part of their paid work, they volunteer their time to learn.

 Eighteen nurses took the course: some for the first time, some for review.

Of the nine nurses who took the course for the first time, all but two passed.

Stephen has had the chance to see the nurses put these new skills into practice to save babies lives.

Nurse's Training Program Graduation

Nurses's Training program graduates with their professors
Thanks to Jenny Case for the photo!

We were back in Impfondo just in time to attend the graduation of the second group of students from our Nurses Training Program this Saturday.

After the graduation, there was a soccer game, followed by the grand opening of the new playground.

A fun, busy day for our first Saturday back in Impfondo!

Kids enjoying the new playground