Maternal Mortality Reduction Program Assistant Training

PIH Lesotho’s Maternal Mortality Reduction Program Assistants (MMRPAs) are trained to explain the basic processes of pregnancy and birth to women; explain the importance and benefits of prenatal and postnatal care and accompany women to all prenatal and postnatal health facility visits; help women to identify danger signs during pregnancy and accompany any women experiencing danger signs to the health facility immediately; help women to recognize the signs and symptoms of anemia and seek help for anemia; and help women plan to stay at a special PIH shelter two weeks before their due dates and deliver at the health facility.

In Lesotho up to 23.7 percent of the population has HIV. MMRPAs are trained to explain to women what HIV is, its stages and symptoms, the importance of HIV testing, how HIV is transmitted, how to avoid getting HIV and other STIs, and how to prevent passing HIV to their babies (PMTCT). People with HIV/AIDs are more likely to become infected with tuberculosis (TB), so MMRPAs are trained to explain to woman what TB is, the importance of TB testing, how TB is transmitted, and how to avoid getting TB. MMRPAs are also trained to provide Directly Observed Therapy (DOT) and support for women taking ARVs or tuberculosis medications in order to ensure adherence.

Finally, MMRPAs are trained to help women keep themselves and their babies and children healthy by to learning about family planning and using birth control methods if appropriate, getting their babies immunized according to the nation schedule, treating diarrhea appropriately, and practicing good personal hygiene and household sanitation. MMRPAs are also trained to identify the main symptoms of malnutrition in children, including symptoms of marasmus and kwashiorkor, and refer children with these symptoms to the health facility immediately.

The training is designed for seven days.

Files
Publication Name
Facilitator Manual
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Description
Facilitator Manual: contains all of the information needed to carry out the training, including preparation and material lists, step-by-step instructions for leading training sessions, pre- and post-tests, and all content from the Participant Handbook
Publication Name
Participant Handbook
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Maternal Mortality Reduction Program Assistant Training
Description
Participant Handbook: contains all of the content that participants are trained on (text and illustrations) and also any case studies, scenarios, small group discussion questions, or role plays needed for training sessions. Participants use the handbook during training sessions and afterwards for review.