April 8, 2016 By Regina Pratt
20 Maternal and Child Health Aides in the Western Area attended a week long capacity building training on the use of contraceptive implant, known locally as ‘captain band’. The training was organised by the Reproductive Health and Family Planning Unit of the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, at the Princess Christian Maternity Hospital, with support from United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
The main objective of the training was to provide skills to service providers working at maternal and child health posts, peripheral health units and hospitals, on how to insert the Jadel (implant) into the arm of women and girls who do not want to get pregnant.
Sister Beatrice Tommy, a public health nurse working at the Reproductive Health and Family Planning Unit, said that the training would provide basic skills for nurses working in maternal and child health posts within communities.
She disclosed long term family planning efficacy of the implant lasts for five years, noting that the training entailed more of practical than theory for service providers.
Maternal and Child Health Aide, Rosaline Kaifineh, explained that after the insertion of the implant, clients should wait for twenty-four hours before having sex with their partners, adding that they should not lift any heavy weight item after three days of insertion.
Also, public health nurse, Sally Carew, called on women and young girls to take advantage of the free service in all government hospitals and healthcare centres across the country, adding although the implant would prevent against pregnancy for five years, if the client decides to be pregnant all they would do is to visit any of health centre and have it removed.
In a bid to reduce the rate of teenage pregnancy and maternal mortality, health partners are working in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to providing services for clients across the country, said one of the health officials.
Other maternal and child health aides in the north, south and east of the country had benefited from a similar training.