Arrival at Tamesna is kind of like coming home. We put up our decorations (wall hangings, paintings by guess who, fairy and solar lights in the trees) and settled in to await the arrival of the matrones in the afternoon. Dr. Becky and Pat packed the pills that the matrones need for their work and did the prep work to start training in the afternoon.
We started by taking their reports and discussing any problems they have had. They reported 527 home births this year and 15 emergency evacuations. There were no maternal mortalities, one infant mortality, 2 infections treated and 1 postpartum hemorrhage. That brings our total home births to 2,115. Of these 580 have been delivered by one women alone–the remarkable Fatima who had her first emergency evacuation just before we arrived–it was her own daughter. After an overlong labor, Fatima thought it prudent to take her to the clinic in Ingall where there is a maternity and trained midwives and a doctor. The birth happened without problem en route–mother and baby healthy. When Fatima arrived the midwives and doctor had a patient they could not figure out how to help. Fatima with her magic hands discovered her bladder was full and she was unable to urinate. A proud moment that our training and the competent hands of Fatima brought some help from a problem the doctor could not figure out.
First day of training–Fatima second from right.
Last trip we had some uncertainty about the ability of all to take blood pressure and the re-verification process proved that there are still a few who do not get it and the bp cuffs were withheld.
After proving they understood how and why to take blood pressure, those who were competent were given blood pressure cuffs and old non-functioning ones were repaired or replaced.
We replaced the necessary materials and resupplied vitamins and meds.
Abarta (far right) is a potential new member of our staff. She helped Rabi out at the clinic during the malaria season when patients are almost non-stop. She is a nursing student. Here she is translating from the French, a film of live births and complications that Dr. Becky brought.
Azarra and Mariama enact the arrival of a patient in labor.
The prefect from Ingall came out to observe our work. He complimented and thanked us and urged the matrones to continue their good work.
After four days of intensive training, Moussa, our honorary matrone who always helps us interpret helped conduct the testing to make sure everyone understood the training and the use of the meds.
After passing the final testing 16 matrones received their certificates and per diem.
We all developed a fondness for Abarta, a nursing student who helped us interpret for the Wodaabe in the program. We hope, when her education is finished she might join the program as a trained midwife.
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