Sudan (Southern Sudan) - Medair sponsors intensive health training for new community health workers in recovering Southern Sudan.
March 2008:
"I'd love to become a doctor," said Ahoch Ayong Athon, already thinking about his long- term aspirations as he prepared to embark on a Medair-sponsored training programme for community health workers (CHWs).
"I expect to learn more about health, like how to make a diagnosis of a patient, how to help with prescribing drugs, and when to refer patients to medical assistants. I think I can achieve that by studying hard and reading a lot!"
Ahoch's goal of becoming a doctor was once a distant dream. Originally from Khartoum, Ahoch started working for Medair as a translator at the primary health care unit in Melut a couple of years ago. "I saw that they were really helping the community. That's why I started working for Medair, because I want to help my people, my community."
Ahoch worked tirelessly at his new job. He provided translation for patients and national and international staff. "Most people here speak Dinka and that is one of the languages I speak fluently, as well as Shilluk and English. It is good that Medair's doctors and nurses are working with many of my people, but not all of the people speak English, so that's why we need a translator."
He soon added reception duties to his job, registering patients, filing cards, and lending a hand wherever needed. People soon took notice of Ahoch's enthusiasm and exemplary efforts.
When Medair offered to send him to Juba to train as a community health worker, Ahoch leapt at the opportunity. "I don't find it difficult to be away from home for such a long time, as I've learned to be on my own," said Ahoch before leaving. "First I will go on a course to be a CHW. Maybe as a second step, I can become a medical assistant, and if I have a chance, I will study more to be a doctor."
February 2009: After the Training
Nine months later, Ahoch is home again, back from the Wonduruba Training Centre in Juba. He is now a certified community health worker. Ahoch was one of 23 trainees selected from communities across Sudan to enroll in this highly regarded training programme.
Now, these freshly-trained CHWs are returning to their communities where they will help rebuild the local health care capacity. "We will be able to do a lot more ourselves," says Ahoch. "We can support our own people who are not able to help themselves."
During the intensive training, Ahoch and his classmates studied, ate, and slept at the training centre. "We learned anatomy and primary health care, how to safely prescribe medicines, and their side effects," he says. "We also learned how to diagnose diseases that are common in Sudan."
The students were sent to nearby health clinics for practical rotations. Ahoch recalls seeing one patient who was struggling to breathe. He correctly diagnosed the problem as bronchitis and prescribed medication for the patient. Ahoch then had the gratifying experience of watching the patient's condition improve every day.
"I really enjoy learning the signs and symptoms of diseases," he says. "Now I can help people who have problems in my community."
Building a Stronger Community
Now that Ahoch is back in Medair's Melut clinic, he is keen to pass on the importance of health education and disease prevention to his community. He has also learned the value of home visits in this regard. "When you see a patient at home you can also evaluate their hygiene practices, and it helps you understand why a particular patient may be getting sick."
Ahoch is grateful to Medair for his training opportunity and he is especially pleased that Medair is building significant capacity from within the community. "Medair is doing a lot of training," concludes Ahoch enthusiastically. "A lot of people were not able to get education during the war, so it is very nice that Medair trains them.
"If Medair ever had to leave, we will now be stronger and more able to manage things ourselves."
Medair is an international non-governmental organisation (NGO), with its operational headquarters located in Switzerland. Its Relief & Rehabilitation programmes in Southern Sudan have been running since 1992.
In Southern Sudan, Medair provides emergency medical and water assistance for outbreaks, large people movements, and nutritional emergencies in a number of locations across the region as well as improving access to primary health care and safe water sources in Upper Nile. In Sudan's Northern States, Medair provides access to primary health care and water and sanitation for up to 210,000 conflict-affected persons in West-Darfur; and provides access to safe water and sanitation, supports reproductive health and promotes public health for up to 100,000 people in South Kordofan.
Medair's work in Southern Sudan is currently supported with the assistance of UNICEF, BSF (DFID - British Government and Worldbank), SDC/DDC (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation), The Humanitarian Aid Department of the European Commission (ECHO) and CHF (the United Nation 'Common Humanitarian Fund for Sudan) and private donors.
