MCHTC: Day 5, The Final Day
Final Exams
Last Chance!
The final day of the Maternal and Child Health Training Conference began with a final retest for those who have yet to pass their OSCE exams. Above we can see the learners studying while awaiting their turn to retest.
Over the course of the entire conference we were happy to see the results:
Champions: 66 out of 80 received their Bleeding After Birth certification!
Rising Trainers: 11 out of 16 received their Bleeding After Birth teaching certificate!
While we hoped everyone would earn their certificate during this Conference, these results demonstrate Tenki’s commitment to upholding a high standard of care for the mothers and children that will benefit from our training.
Closing Ceremonies
Closing Ceremonies began with song and dance led by Florence from CHASL.
Speeches
The President of Njala University gave the opening remarks and celebrated the success of the Conference.
High Standards
Mariama spoke next and highlighted the rigorous training that the midwives endured over the last four days.
The high standards that Tenki expects of all participants who receive our training reflects our commitment to providing the people of Sierra Leone with the best care possible given the available resources.
Certificates
Meanwhile, in the background the team was filling out the certificates of completion to hand out at the closing ceremony. Also pictured here is Josephine from The Healey International Foundation.
We’d like to thank Josephine for the tremendous amount of logistical support. Josephine was constantly solving problems and providing resources to ensure the Conference had what it needed to succeed.
Mariama and Amanda handing out the certificates at the closing ceremony
The Legacy We Left Behind
Tenki had the privilege of presenting six Mama Natalie birthing simulators to the facilities who had the highest performers at the MCHTC. The honorees included the National Master Trainers, who received an additional Mama Natalie, as well as exemplary Rising Trainers and Champions.
Taking these simulators back to their home clinics will allow these distinguished learners to provide low dose high frequency training to their peers in between formal training opportunities like this conference.
Mariama gave honor graduates a detailed walk through on how to use the equipment to sustain their skills and teach their co-workers.
She also emphasized the importance of using low-dose, high frequency training in their facilities to sustainably maintain skills, and created a mentorship WhatsApp group to provide support and improve accountability.
This was essential because the awardees were a mix of Champions and Rising Trainers who showed great skill and potential.
After the conference, Tenki sorted the remaining supplies and donated a full suitcase to Sister Florence and her clinic.
With Bo in the rear-view mirror, we returned to the village of Baima. First, we returned to the clinic to donate three bag mask valve devices to help babies breathe (pictured below).
We also returned to the Baima primary and middle schools to donate a suitcase full of books. These books are another addition to our growing Books on Wheels program. We know they will be put to good use and look forward to seeing how many kids sign them out to read on our next check in.
Pictured above is over 200 pounds of medication, sutures, and medical supplies donated by Direct Relief. Tenki was proud to help deliver this vital resource, although not without great difficulty, to Sierra Leone. When the checked bags containing this humanitarian aid finally arrived, four days after we did, we were honored to hand over custody to Josephine and The Healey International Relief Foundation for distribution to hospitals and clinics in need.
This trip to Sierra Leone was exceptional in its scope and complexity. Tenki is proud to have been an integral part of this ambitious, first of its kind, collaborative effort involving multiple organizations with a common goal: to improve the health and well-being of the mothers and children of Sierra Leone.