Hello dear friends and followers!

Many of you have reached out to me, concerned about future trips and funding, considering the dramatic and horrific changes being made within our current government. I have much to catch you up on but let me begin by letting you know that the primary funding for MHI (Mother Health International) comes from an organization based in Australia. As of now, our funding and training programs are secure! 

so, let the catch up begin! For those of you just joining us, and those of you that need a recap, I am now working directly with Mother Health International (Mother Health) and Rachel Zaslow. Here's a brief introduction and profile...

Dr. Rachel Zaslow's career as a Registered Midwife in Sub-Saharan Africa spans 20 years with a focus on strengthening maternal health care systems in resource poor areas. Her area of expertise is in developing midwifery models of care that blend clinical excellence with culturally specific practice for improving health outcomes in the Global South. Rachel is Executive Director of Mother Health International (MHI), an organization aimed at building and sustaining birth centers and training midwives in areas with the highest burden of perinatal mortality. MHI has a model birth center in Northern Uganda that has some of the best perinatal outcomes in East Africa. Zaslow holds a PhD in women's health and is clinical faculty at Yale School of Midwifery.

Following a zoom meeting with MHI's primary funders ( Dak Foundation ), Rachel and I have been making some incredible plans for the future of midwife training at the birth center. Our plans include not only continuing the training of midwives but also hiring a full time Sonographer and Mentor for the birth center. After completing my 4-week training course, this person will work as a Sonographer at the compound but also as a mentor to the midwives who have completed the ultrasound training. MHI will be flying me back to Uganda this summer for short trip, allowing me to help screen and interview potential candidates for this position. 

Here is an outline of the training program that I have designed for MHI:

POINT OF CARE ULTRASOUND TRAINING FOR MIDWIVES

At Mother Health International Birth Center, Atiak, Uganda.

PHASE 1

This is a Point of Care (POCUS) course, consisting of 4-weeks of training, covering 21 lectures. The first two weeks of the course combine 21 lectures with hands-on ultrasound training. The lectures cover a range of topics (see curriculum) focusing on clinical relevance in a midwife setting. The second 2 weeks are strictly focused on ultrasound scanning and reviewing images taken by participants. There is a written exam for the lecture materials at the end of week 2, and a hands-on assessment at the completion of the course. Upon approval, any midwives who have previously completed the Phase 1 course are welcome to return and act as Teaching Assistants, as well as receive additional instruction. The number of attendants should not exceed two trainees per machine, no more than 6 trainees total for the course. Attendees must commit to completing all 4 weeks of training to receive a certificate of completion. It is my desire that MHI can accommodate up to 2 training sessions per year.

PHASE 2

I would like to propose a Phase 2 Training curriculum. This is a 2-week course, 1 week given at the end of Phase 1 training session #1, the second week given at the end of Phase 1 training session #2, based on 2 training sessions per year. Midwives who have completed the Phase 1 training may apply to attend Phase 2 and if both weeks are completed, they will receive a certificate. It is not necessary for the weeks to be completed within the same year, if their schedule does not allow it. The purpose of this phase is to improve the quality of the scanning skills learned in Phase 1, continue learning normal vs abnormal. Trainees from Phase 1 will have to apply for a spot in the Phase 2 training. Class size parameters are the same as Phase 1, 2 participants per machine, no more than 6 trainees per class. A small portion of this course would revisit lectures for review, a majority of the time will be spent scanning patients.

Phase 2 Week 1: Focus on Cervix, Ovaries, Placenta, amniotic fluid assessment.

Phase 2 Week 2: Fetal Biometry and Fetal Anatomy, Maternal Kidneys

 

Rachel and the DAK Foundation were thrilled with this training plan, and I have been working on fine-tuning the lectures and overall curriculum. Rachel has also come up with the brilliant plan to offer this training program under the umbrella of the NGO status of MHI, which will open up opportunities for fundraising and expansion. Eventually, we are hoping to offer supporters the opportunity to make tax-deductible contributions designated specifically to the training program. We are also hoping to offer the training program, and myself as a consultant and trainer, to other NGOs as a service, creating additional fundraising opportunities for MHI and offering training and education to other underserved communities worldwide. To say that I am excited about the potential of this program is an understatement! 

I am also planning on returning to Atiak in October for another training session for a new group of midwives, as well as a week of Phase 2 training. 

In the long-term, I hope to return to Atiak twice annually for training sessions. This year, however, there is a small obstacle preventing my return in the spring. For my birthday this year, I have decided to treat myself and get a much-needed total knee replacement! 😂 This is scheduled at the end of March, with at least 6 weeks of recovery. I have had increased chronic knee pain for decades, thanks to a soccer injury in high school and years of running, so I am anxious to get it resolved and looking forward to becoming bionic. 

So, what can we do in the meantime? Well, calling all knitters and crocheters! I am once again accepting baby hats! Send me an email if you need my address (joahsarc@hotmail.com), if you have not emailed me before, please put Baby Hats in the subject line, in case your email goes to my spam folder. 

As always, I am always working on additional ways to support the communities I travel to. When I was last in Atiak, knitting baby hats during my downtime, many of the midwives expressed an interest in learning how to knit. If I can teach them how to knit baby hats, and bring them the necessary supplies, they will have the opportunity to keep their hat supply well stocked and also carry on a long history of knitting midwives. There are countless articles and studies on the benefits of knitting and crocheting, relieving anxiety, stress, chronic pain, and especially releasing serotonin while encouraging a sense of community. It also allows the midwives to show their love and support by giving their projects to mothers in need. I will be creating a knitting class, complete with patterns and supplies, and hope to bring them enough yarn to keep them productive in between my visits. On my last visit, I could no longer resist the beautiful fabric found in the markets of Gulu. In my determination to start sewing again (it's been decades!), I found a pattern for a Japanese Knot bag that will make the perfect knitting bag for the midwives. I have started making bags with the fabric I bought in Uganda and some beautiful fabric donated by my friend and neighbor (Thanks, Jan!).

I am in the process of streamlining the knitting supply list and I will be making a tutorial booklet, using diagrams and pictures for the midwives that do not read English. To those of you interested in donating to this project, I will share a list of needed supplies soon! 

Thanks to your generosity, I have been able to donate over 100 solar lamps to rural areas of Uganda. I have modified the goal of my fundraiser and continue taking donations to purchase more in the future. If you are interested in assisting with this, here is the link:

Solar Lamps for Uganda

Whew! I believe I have caught everyone up...for now. :) I'll continue to keep you posted on updates and as always, I can't thank you enough for your emotional and financial support with my volunteer work. I could not do any of this without you. 💗

Much love, Jo/MB