South Sudan: Juba College of Nursing and Midwifery

Training to Provide Support and Care: Q3 2016

September 30, 2016

Dr. Taban Martin Vitale

Summary of Activities
  • Facilitated and trained JCONAM third-year nursing and midwifery students on respectful health care (RHC).
  • Conducted training on psycho-trauma support for JCONAM third-year nursing and midwifery students.
  • Continued support of the college’s human resources through payment of the national tutors’ salaries.
  • The two master trainers for the Health eVillages project continued to benefit from the provided tablets preloaded with medical materials.
  • 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 the 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.
  • Sponsored first, second, and third-year nursing and midwifery students at the Juba College of Nursing and Midwifery through provision of uniforms, skills laboratory equipment, clinical training equipment, books, stationery, and information technology (IT) equipment.
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Results &

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Training

Improving Patient Care

52 third-year students (30 nursing students and 22 midwifery students) received training on:

  • Respectful Health Care (RHC), which has positively improved their working relationship with Juba Teaching Hospital’s healthcare professionals, leading to overall patient satisfaction.
  • Psycho-Trauma Support, and are now able to identify and provide psycho-social support to patients during their clinical rotations in Juba Teaching Hospital and primary healthcare centers in the city of Juba.

Graduates

Helping Communities

Upon graduation after the three-year course, the registered nurses and midwives will continue to provide much-needed services within South Sudan’s states and counties at the facility level. The services offered by this cadre of graduates are also expected to extend into the community through health education, community mobilization, and home care, among others.

Growth

Seeking Partnerships

Several years of experience derived from working with JCONAM and other partners has enabled RMF to develop a vision of increasing its level of support in South Sudan. By virtue of its registration and autonomy, RMF will seek to partner with organizations/agencies, and most importantly, government elements, in the areas of health systems strengthening and sustainable economic empowerment as witnessed in its projects in other countries.

Maternity Ward

Hands-on Experience

With the inclusion of second-year midwifery students on the Maternity ward’s delivery roster, students are able to conduct/participate in 10-20 supervised deliveries per day. These numbers are, however, meant to increase as JCONAM looks into expanding the number of practice sites in the near future.

Technology Support

Speed and Efficiency

The two college tutors continued to supervise and mentor the nurses/midwives provided with Health eVillages preloaded tablets, which in turn has improved patient care in the facility, as healthcare professionals are able to do quick reference checks and provide health education using the devices.

Mentorship

Providing Support

College students are now getting good support and mentorship from Juba Teaching Hospital’s staff and from college tutors while in clinical practice, following the formation of a joint JCONAM-JTH committee which enhances the relationship between JCONAM and JTH administration.

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Background

& Objectives

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.
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More

Photos

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Real Medicine Foundation - more photos.
Real Medicine Foundation - more photos.
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Real Medicine Foundation - more photos.
Real Medicine Foundation - more photos.
Real Medicine Foundation - more photos.
Real Medicine Foundation - more photos.
Real Medicine Foundation - more photos.
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Numbers

Served

Nursing Students

  • Year 1: 27
  • Year 2: 15
  • Year 3: 31

Midwifery Students

  • Year 1: 27
  • Year 2: 14
  • Year 3: 22

Total

136 students are fully sponsored for the three-year education program.