Freetown, July 13, 09. (MOHS)- The Reproductive Health and Family Planning Programme of the Ministry of Health has concluded a Ten Day Training Workshop on Basic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care with a certification Ceremony held at the Princess Christian Maternity Hospital in Freetown.

Group Photo with the Deputy Minister

Giving the objectives of the workshop, the Coordinator of the Reproductive Health and Family Planning, Sister Rugiatu Kanu said the programme aims at upgrading the skills of Community Health Officers and Midwives to a satisfactory level, adding that those targeted for the training were from Kambia and Port Loko.

Deputy Minister of Health Addressing the Certification Occasion

She said participants during the training were trained to Practical Session on the use of Manual Vaccum Aspiration and extraction, Pantograph and other key modules.

Dr. Francis Smart Demonstrating

Making his remarks, the Manager, Reproductive Health and Family Planning, Dr. Francis Smart, stressed the need of getting  well trained and qualified Skilled Attendants at Birth, adding that though recent Demographic Health Survey indicates an improvement on Maternal and Child Health, yet more has to be done on Institutional deliveries by putting in place the appropriate Signal Functions.

 Eclampsia, Dr. Smart told participant is the largest cause of maternal death.

Dr. Peter Sikana of UNFPA observed that most of the deaths are preventable, stressing the need for a countrywide community education and sensitization.

Dr. Peter Sikana

He said Health Professionals dealing with maternal and child health are to be empowered to save lives, adding that he is optimistic that  with the training, the midwives and Community Health Officers would be able to attend to complications.

Presenting the certificates to the trainees, Deputy Health and Sanitation Minister, Mohamed Daudis Koroma underscored the importance of the training noting that it focuses on promoting maternal and child health in the country.

He described the training workshop as an added value to the profile of the trainees, hoping that they would use it for the benefit of their various communities and Sierra Leone in particular.

From right: Proud recipient receiving his certificate from the Deputy Minister

The Deputy Minister reminded the Heath Professionals that Institutional Deliveries should be paramount, adding that all Labour Rooms should be seen as a Comfort Zone for pregnant women.

He thanked the Reproductive Health Management for the resourceful training, and the funding partners, for their support. SLENA reports.

JAK/MOHS/SLENA.