The Second Training for Health Workers of Major Hospitals in Greater Accra Region.

While the first training of health workers of major hospitals in Greater Accra Region was conducted in March 2020, the second batch was postponed till October 2020 due to the COVID-19. This was the first training conducted by GHS Counterparts, Project National Staff with the support of JICA Ghana Office. During the period of the training, the Project National staff were sending pictures, videos and messages to Japanese experts in Japan to update them on the progress of the training.

This batch of health worker training in the Greater Accra region was held at Erata Hotel in the Greater Accra Region from 19th to 22nd October 2020.

The training was the first health worker training held for four (4) days after the training schedule was revised.

It was a residential training for thirty-one (31) participants who were all midwives and four (4) regional facilitators with the support of National Facilitators (2) and the Project National Staff (3).

All participants adhered to COVID-19 protocol by the GHS, such as wearing masks, washing their hands before entering the training venue and applying hand-sanitizer every time. In order to observe the part of the COVID-19 protocols PPE’s such as facemask, gun thermometer and sanitizers were purchased specifically for the training. Hand sanitizers were put on the tables for participants and facilitators and also at the entrance of the venue apart from the veronica bucket which was placed at the entrance of the venue. Foods were packed in take away bowls for participants.

All the participants actively participated in the lectures, group work and role-plays in the training. The field practice was done internally at the training venue instead of health facilities due to issues of COVID-19. Participants practiced with themselves and some baby dolls. Some of the exercises done during the practical session was “Dear mother” (introduction of MCH RB to mother with simple language and respectful manners), recording, measurement, plotting and counseling skills. As the contents of nutrition counseling and respectful care were new to the participants, a national facilitator spent time on it for participants to understand fully.

Four-day training curriculum was better than the three-day one as the facilitators had ample time to explain all the various contents of the training to participants and the participants also had time to ask all the questions they wanted to ask. Also, the training closed earlier than when it was held for 3 days, which also helped participants to have enough rest and prepare for the next day and also had time for their assignments. At the end of the training, participants were happy with the knowledge they acquired, especially on the nutrition counseling and respectful care, the anthropometric measurement skills and calculation skills of Body Mass Index.

The Project team was so happy and grateful for the teamwork of the GHS, Project National Staff and JICA Ghana Office to realize the practical skill training under the difficult situation. The Japanese experts were all impressed by the ownership and responsibility that the National staff shared with us to conduct the training by themselves.