Retraining in Iferouane

Due to political insecurity, we were forced to postpone our mission with the US team to check up on the matrones practicing in Niger. The Iferouane team is Aghali, Assalama and Fatima.   Aghali picks up the matrones from their remote camps, and orders their supplies, and meds from Assalama’s list. Their needs are determined by the matrone’s reports which indicate the number of patients they have treated since our last contact. Assalama does the training and Fatima is her assistant.

Fatima Mawli shows her report and the per diem she has received. She is flanked by Assalama and Fatima who holds the replacement supplies.

Welcomed by the mayor of  Iferouane, the training takes place in the city hall of Iferouane.

Over five days the women go over what they have learned and exchange experiences. Each has a report that indicates number of births at home or evacuated to a maternity and any complications.

With the help of films produced Medical Aid Films and Global Health Media, and translated into Tamasheq by the Nomad Foundation, Assalama reviews the essentials of the training. These films are now available to all online.

Supplies calculated by each matrone’s statistics from her report are ready for distribution.

After testing to prove that each has understood the training and the dosage of meds she will receive, each matrone receives replacement supplies, a medical bag and a certificate of completion.

In 216 births, the matrones reported zero maternal mortalities, 15 infant mortalities from miscarriage due to malaria, 14 infections, 8 hemorrhages, and 10 cases of malaria. It was a heavy rainy season which resulted in too many cases of malaria. The new medicinal garden we have planted in Iferouane will provide the pregnant women of the region moringa, to provide prenatal vitamins and artemisia which when consumed as tea can help diminish malaria. There is more work to do, but the commune of Iferouane is grateful and the Nomad Foundation is proud of these amazing women.