Last Friday was a special day for the young nurses at APS, as Ruth and Nancy provided the first introductory lesson on how to use the fetal monitor.  As shown in these few pictures, Ruth was the guinea pig while Nancy showed the nurses how to correctly use the monitor. This was the first of a few lessons to come.

 

We also had the opportunity to visit one of the large private hospital in the Kathmandu valley (Patan Hospital).  This large scale teaching hospital (500 beds) includes a large maternity center (40 to 50 deliveries per day).  We were all impressed by the scale of this hospital considering the more limited means of the Nepal economy.  This visit also allowed us to gain more perspective on the importance of centers like APS.  A regular delivery at Patan cost 4500 rupees (approx. 65$), while an APS delivery is free. Government/public hospital also provide free delivery, the heavy volume in these hopsitals makes the experience less than ideal.  It was great to see how the local partner that we are supporting is meeting a real community need.

This post is to give you a short update on the APS Birth Center, the local partner that Dr. Ruth Brighouse, Dr. Nancy Trimble and I are involved with since our arrival in Kathmandu.

The center is quite rudimentary and has been set-up in 2007. My colleagues have been impressed by the skills and knowledge of the mid-wives that are running this center. Their dedication towards their cause (infant mortality reduction and the set-up of a proper mid-wife training centre) is astonishing.  Our main contributions are around the development of a curriculum and training delivery method for my colleagues, while I am involved in the development of a long term plan for the center as well as a review of their management practices such that they can reach break-even.

I also wanted to introduce you to Dr. Medina, a young women full of energy and potential that recently completed a bachelor of Medicine (a three year program that follows a high school diploma – 10th grade, so still far from our Canadian standard, yet, the entry point to post-grad program that lead to high quality physicians as we have observed in the ob/gyn and pediatric physicians that are affiliated with APS).

Why Medina? Because she represents the changes that are taking place in Nepal, as well as the future potential for this country.  In Nepal, girls are typically required to stay home as soon as they can handle home chores, hence no schooling, no revenues, etc. However, times are changing.  Medina graduated with her bachelor degree from a university in China, she fluently speaks Nepali, Chinese and English and is lining up post-grad studies in the coming year. A nice example of what is coming for Nepalese people.  An inspirational leader.