Huda Anan, MAP Programme Officer, reports on our recent training for medical staff working in neonatal and obstetric units in Gaza:
Improving Maternal and Child Health (MCH) is one of Medical Aid for Palestinians’ key priorities. This area of intervention is particularly critical in Gaza, where there are approximately 50,000 pregnancies every year and 3,700 newborns are expected to be identified as ‘high-risk’ cases. During the July 2014 attacks on Gaza, neonatal intensive care units were unable to provide sufficient services, causing unsafe deliveries and limited post-partum care. This compounded the already severe limitations caused by the ongoing siege of Gaza on the capacity of neonatal support services. There are very few opportunities for staff to improve their skills.
In response to this need, with the support of MAP trustee Dr Ezzedin Gouta, MAP has been delivering a neonatal life support (NLS) training courses since 2008, through which more than 200 doctors, nurses and midwifes working in neonatal and obstetric units have been trained. The course is entitled “Through simple and organized procedures, within the first minutes of life, a newborn’s life can be saved”.
On 18th-19th March 2015, MAP supported the latest NLS training for 29 doctors, nurses and midwives currently working at neonatal and maternal units in Gaza. Dr Gouta carried out the training alongside nine local instructors, who previously completed MAP ‘Training-of-Trainers’ courses.
The feedback from the trainees was positive, and they reported that it will enhance their ability to save the lives of newborn children in Gaza.
You can read more about our Maternal and Child Health work here.