91. Revolutionizing Maternal and Infant Healthcare Provider Training in Nepal

This week's speaker, Margaux Charpentier, is the Grants Manager for One Heart Worldwide, an NGO whose mission is to make pregnancy and childbirth safer for all, with a particular emphasis on the underserved women and infants of Nepal. Margaux has a background in anthropology and is currently completing a Master's in International Development from University College Dublin in Ireland. At OHW, she is in charge of communication with donors, providing grant reports for partners, and researching new funding opportunities.Each year in Nepal, 1,500 mothers and 12,000 newborns die from preventable causes related to pregnancy or childbirth. Many health workers lack the specialized skills to deliver quality maternal and newborn care, and even those who participate in government programs such as the official certification training to become Skilled Birth Attendants lack follow-up or opportunities to gain new information or updated techniques. Further complicating these factors, health providers, particularly in rural areas, frequently cite isolation and lack of opportunities as impacting their overall satisfaction and, ultimately, a loss of skills retention.To better address the training needs of maternal and neonatal healthcare (MNH) service providers and improve the quality of essential obstetric and newborn care services in rural Nepal, One Heart Worldwide developed, piloted and is now deploying an innovative simulation-based training and mentorship program (SBMP) for rural healthcare providers. Simulation-based approaches create rich learning environments by providing MNH providers with opportunities to practice their clinical and decision-making skills through various real-life situational experiences. Practicing in realistic scenarios builds competencies to manage emergencies and rare adverse events, directly impacting patient outcomes.OHW, with support from a Rotary Global Grant, is currently expanding the SBMP into each of our active program implementation districts as an integral part of our intervention.To learn more, go to: https://oneheartworldwide.org/