DIVISION OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH HOLDS A FOCUSED ANTE-NATAL CARE TRAINING
Thurday,01 October 2009 9:40 |

A Focused Ante-natal Care is a new approach aimed at helping women have safe pregnancy by identifying their pre-existing health conditions, early detection of complications during the pregnancy, health promotion, and birth preparedness.

The new ante-natal care approach was introduced during a one-day training held on 28th September 2009 at the Riley Mother and Baby Hospital Boardroom that was graced by Dr. B.T Chemwolo, the Chairman of the Reproductive Health Division.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Chemwolo said there is need for Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital to embrace the practice, which, has been in place for the past five years since its inception.

He mentioned the old standard method that required mothers to make visits monthly up to 28 weeks of pregnancy; bi-weekly up to 36 weeks and thereafter weekly until delivery.

In the new Focused approach, mothers will be seen through individualized sessions four times during the whole pregnancy period, which last for thirty minutes and covers birth preparedness.

Dr. Chemwolo further indicated that the implementation team would have full support from both the Division of Reproductive Health and the Hospital Management, to enable them implement the programme and oversee its progress to ultimate success.

He urged the participants to learn from the training and become the goodwill ambassadors of the programme.

Among the topics covered during the training included; pillars of safe motherhood focused Ante Natal Care and thereafter the participants held a plenary session and evaluation of the same.

The facilitators in the forum were drawn from the Division including Dr. Amon Chirchir, a Consultant Obstetrics Gynecologist and the Head of Department MCH/FP, Mrs. Colleta Makhoha, Nurse Manager MCH/FP and Mrs. Loise Maina, Nurse Manager Reproductive Health.

Others were students drawn from nursing, MO’s, MO Interns, Clinical Officers and those from the Moi University School of Medicine, KMTC and MTRH Training Centre.