Project News

In Sudan, more than 85 % of total delivery are conducted by village midwives and TBAs (traditional birth attendances) at home. Based on the request of State Ministry of Health, the project held In-service training targeting village midwives for seven days from 2nd October, 2011. 13 village midwives from Girba and Wad El Helew, the pilot areas, attended the training which was facilitated by health visitors.

Village midwives in Kassala have completed one-year midwifery course which focuses practical trainings rather than lectures. The majority of them, however, are illiterate because they receive only primary education or even drop out of elementary school. Therefore, practical guidance is very important. On the other hand, health visitors received one-year professional training after three- years nursing course. They are assigned at midwifery schools and other government agencies as supervisors of village midwives.

Participants eagerly learned under instruction of health visitors. In response to their eagerness, health visitors supplementary instructed on an individual basis for techniques such as sterilization of equipment, birth assistance, and care of new-born babies after classes at nights. The blood pressure measurement and urine test were newly introduced techniques in this training and also subjects at nights.

The health visitors' dedicated instructions led to remarkable results that the two midwives obtained a perfect score in proficiency test and the average score increased by 26% after the training. Furthermore, these trained village midwives regained their confidences and prides through the training and they returned to their communities with hopeful eyes.

We believe that the village midwives will utilize what they have learnt and contribute to the reduction of maternal mortality at each community.

Health visitors taught how to measure blood pressure to village midwives

Village midwives received certificates of in-service training