‘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 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.