TRAINING RURAL HEALTH NURSES AND MIDWIVES

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 000432 SIPDIS STATE FOR AF AND AF/E STATE PASS USAID E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV EAID SOCI DJ SUBJECT: TRAINING RURAL HEALTH NURSES AND MIDWIVES ¶1. (U) On April 25, for the first time in the history of Djibouti, the Minister of Health opened a three-day training session for nine rural health post nurses and midwives outside of the city capital at the District Hospital in Ali Sabieh. The nurses and midwives represent the five health post communities in the Ali Sabieh district. This ceremony also formally announced to the public that USAID's effort to assist the Djiboutian Ministry of Health to reform the health sector had begun the second phase of training, focusing on health staff at the district level. ¶2. (U) In attendance at this ceremony, in addition to the Minister of Health, were the District Commissioner, the USAID Senior Health Advisor, the Chief of Party of the USAID-funded health reform project and Ministry of Health officials. Also present were district trainers and some USAID project staff. All presenters pointed out the historic importance of this training as well as the fact that the rural health post staffs are the frontline in the effort to reduce child and maternal morbidity and mortality. ¶3. (U) Trainers were composed of district staff who participated in the "training of trainers" course held in the capital in March 2005, as well as USAID health project staff responsible for training. The three-day course was focused on health care basics such as prevention of infections, universal precautions and management of childhood illnesses. Training courses for rural health post staff are to be held over the course of the coming year and will follow the three-day format, in order to prevent long absences of health workers from health posts. Each training session will be repeated in each of the five districts. USAID project staff will be on hand to supervise and insure quality of the training. Follow-on training sessions will take place in May and June. The next round of training will focus on growth monitoring and nutrition in children as well as routine immunization techniques and record keeping. ¶4. (U) Comment: That this was the first health training ever done outside of the capital is a significant departure for the Ministry. Rural health posts had been virtually ignored until the beginning of the USAID financed project. Now with health posts staff being trained and communities mobilized, there is hope for a real impact on the well being of mothers and children living in rural communities. RAGSDALE