To make this post more fun, there will be some quizes for the readers.
I have got some of the pictures of my BEMONC (Basic Emergency Obstetrical and Newborn Care) students/trainees in action.
- Students attending lectures. The training is really intensive-8:30am to 5:30/6:30pm for 18 days, First 8 days of lectures, skills demonstration and role play, then 10 days of practical on labour ward, antenatal clinic and post natal care.
Quiz: What are they doing here?

They are doing an “Energizer”! Since the training program is developed by JHPIEGHO (Johns Hopkins Program for International Education in Gynecology and Obstetrics), it follows very closely a western model including doing energizers- but in a very Ethiopian way. Sometimes a student will tell a funny joke or the instructor will lead everybody to perform some of their traditional synchronous moves which I find very interesting to copy myself.

Infection prevention and sterile technique are definitely something they need to work on. But how can you do a good job if this is all the gear of protection available? Some students said in their health centres, there were no sterile gloves, not to say sterile drapes and autoclaves…Not much is offered for the health workers to protect them from blood transmitted infection like hepatitis or HIV.

Much emphasis is put on disinfection of equipment with 0.5% chlorine solution, washing in soapy water in a bucket and scrubbing with a toothbrush, then rinse in clean water (but often tap water here is very muddy) and air dry.
Quiz: What do you think this is?

An innovative sponge anatomical model to practice suturing of perineal lacerations! Now you see all the female genital parts??
Quiz: What anatomical structure is this?

Come on, isn’t that obvious? With some imagination, you will see a uterus and it’s a model for practicing repair of cervical tears. See the line of stitches.

Newborn resuscitation- you can tell easily some of these health workers have never seen or laid their hands on an ambu bag!
Quiz: What are we doing in the dark?

In order to simulate close to real life situation, the power was out during class time as usual. So a good buddy spontaneously took out her mobile phone to act as a light source in order for her classmate to finish manual vacuum aspiration of retained products of gestation.
Quiz: Time for mid-term exam. How many students do you think make a pass on first attempt? (BTW 85% or above is their passing score. The reason why they set the passing mark so high is these health workers are out there by themselves saving lives, so they want to ensure all the BEMONC trainees are competent and up to standard)

7 out of 14 passed (ie 50%) To my surprise, the instructors were very pleased saying this was amongst the best batch they had ever taught. Usually less than 25% passed on first attempt. Nobody passed on pre-course evaluation which was using the same questionnaire. I am happy to see everyone passed on the re-sit examination 10 days after.
More to follow .