The continuation of the hospital partnership between the German Society of Tropical Paediatrics & International Child Health (GTP) e.V. and Muhimbili National Hospital in Tanzania aims to enhance the quality of neonatal care by providing training courses for hospital staff.
Background:
Despite making significant progress in reducing infant mortality, Tanzania suffers from a high neonatal mortality rate. As Muhimbili National Hospital in the capital city of Dar es Salaam is home to the country’s largest neonatal ward and serves as an important training hub for medical students, postgraduates and nurses, the hospital’s neonatal unit plays a key role in providing care for newborn babies in Tanzania.
Activities:
- Four-week training course on ventilation strategies, feeding strategies and other relevant issues for the paediatricians and postgraduates
- Four-week training course on neonatal care for nurses and paediatricians
- Four-week temporary placement of two paediatricians and two nurses in the neonatal unit of the Altona Children’s Hospital
Impact:
The training activities for paediatricians and nurses are designed to improve the medical care given to sick and extremely premature newborns and to reduce infant mortality. As the majority of staff undergoing training are themselves involved in training students, the unit serves as a role model for the entire country.