‘Clinical mentoring of health workers reduces obstetric complications’

Medical doctors in general hospitals in Bauchi State have said that clinical mentoring of health workers of primary healthcare centres by the  European Union and UNICEF for nurses, community health extension workers in some selected local governments has significantly reduced  obstetrics complications, and maternal and child mortality rates in the state. The project engaged the […]

Medical doctors in general hospitals in Bauchi State have said that clinical mentoring of health workers of primary healthcare centres by the  European Union and UNICEF for nurses, community health extension workers in some selected local governments has significantly reduced  obstetrics complications, and maternal and child mortality rates in the state.

The project engaged the services of clinical mentors, including doctors and midwives from general hospitals and maternal child coordinators in the  selected local government areas to train them.

They were trained on antenatal care, active management of labour, active management of third stage of labour, post-natal and prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV with continual monthly visitation to  primary health care centres to ensure quality of services of the trainees.

Speaking during the monthly assessment of nurses at Lukshi Primary Health Centre, Dass  Local Government Area, the doctor in charge  of the General Hospital in Dass, Dr Muhammed Albuhari, said the training has yielded positive results from the  primary healthcare centres.  He said the skills of trainees had improved on neonatal resuscitation, integrated management of newborn and children illness, post-natal care for babies and management of malnutrition.

Dr Ibrahim Tijjani of General Hospital, Darazo, who was leading the mentors at Gbachiyari PHC, called on the state government to incorporate  clinical mentoring system in its health schedule for the sustainability of the project.

One of the trainees, and nurse in charge of Gbachiyari PHC, Nazira Muhammed, said the training improved her skills in resuscitation of newborn and active management of labour with the pathograph.

Lois Luka, a nurse at one of the hard to reach PHCs in Lukshi, Dass local government, said the training exposed nurses and other healthcare workers to advanced stages of clinical services.