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