South Sudan: Juba College of Nursing and Midwifery

Supporting Midwives, Tutors, and Trainers: Q1 2018

June 08, 2018

Odongo Bonny Oryem

Continued Support of Staff and Students

 

Summary of Activities 

Implemented activities in line with RMF-sponsored activities and project objectives: 
 

  • Continued support of college human resources through payment of the South Sudanese national tutor’s salary. In addition to her role of lecturing and mentoring students in clinical studies, the experienced national tutor provided by RMF continued to support JCONAM’s administration in management of the college.    

  • Continued paying the monthly salary of a highly experienced, registered midwife who is heading the Maternity department of Juba Teaching Hospital (JTH) and mentoring students from JCONAM during their clinical practice at the hospital.  

  • The two master trainers for the Health eVillages project continued to benefit from the tablets preloaded with medical materials. They continued do quick reference checks during lectures and clinical work, hence improving the quality of service delivery.  

  • Continued to support the consultative process in developing policies/guidelines and strengthening the South Sudan Nurses and Midwives Association. 

  • Provided support to the National Ministry of Health, Republic of South Sudan and project partners in the coordination and implementation of project activities over the reporting period. Support and activities are in line with the approved JCONAM annual work plan.  

  • Continued facilitation of interlinkages with UNFPA, MOH, IMC, and other stakeholders to guarantee quality assurance in the implementation of both nursing and midwifery curricula in the diploma program. 

  • Coordinated RMF activities with other organizations and UN agencies supporting the Juba College of Nursing and Midwifery (JCONAM) by participating in meetings and conferences.

  • JCONAM students in clinical practice continued to provide healthcare services at Juba Teaching Hospital (JTH) and primary healthcare centers within the city of Juba, bridging gaps in human resources and improving quality of care.  

  • The college continued to house students from Kajo Keji Health Training Institute due to relocation of the students and teaching staff to Juba because of insecurity in the area.  

 


JCONAM third-year student demonstrating early prevention of hypothermia immediately after delivery 


Students showing how to set up and perform resuscitation of a newborn with a low Apgar score 


JCONAM students have the freedom to access practical rooms for training demonstrations.   
 
 
Midwifery Tutor Judith Draleru showing students how to conduct an abdominal examination of a pregnant woman  


JCONAM midwifery students demonstrating how to conduct positive pressure ventilation for a child who fails to establish normal breathing after resuscitation 


JCONAM midwifery and nursing students jointly commemorating World AIDS Day with health messages for prevention 
 
 
JCONAM students advocating for access and uptake of female condom use 


Counseling attendees on safe reproductive health practices 

JCONAM student demonstrating how to perform nonseptic manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) 
 
 JCONAM midwifery student demonstrating how to insert a vaginal speculum with minimal risk of trauma and infection


JCONAM midwifery student demonstrating how to conduct manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) during an emergency  

 

Background

South Sudan’s maternal mortality rate remains one of the highest in the world – 789 women per 100,000 live births. This means that 1 in 50 women will die from pregnancy-related causes, as compared to 1 in 4,900 in developed countries. Currently in South Sudan, only about 19% of deliveries take place at a health facility, and despite improvements, there is still a critical shortage of midwives throughout the country. Real Medicine Foundation initiated and co-founded South Sudan’s first-ever accredited college of nursing and midwifery with St. Mary’s Hospital Juba Link, Isle of Wight, and the college was established in collaboration with the Ministry of Health of South Sudan, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNDP, WHO, CIDA, and the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and in partnership with and with financial support from World Children’s Fund.

Objectives

  • Provide model courses in Registered Nursing and Registered Midwifery in the first National Health Training Diploma Institute in South Sudan.
  • Provide a curriculum recognized by all ministries associated with education in the ROSS (new designation for the new Republic of South Sudan, replacing GOSS).
  • Provide leading edge skills laboratory and library for the students.
  • Provide improved clinical setting for student training.
  • Provide highly qualified instructors and tutors for the duration of the three-year program.
  • Provide an unprecedented model of healthcare sector capacity building for South Sudan.
  • Provide a sustainable solution to South Sudan’s maternal mortality rate and infant mortality rate, both among the highest in the world.