During the MV YWAM PNG’s visit to Iruna, Central Province, in October, the health workers stationed at Iruna Health Centre were mourning the loss of a mother who died during childbirth in their health centre just days before.
During an education session run by YWAM MS, the health workers began to share that the mother had died from a postpartum haemorrhage and a retained placenta. YWAM MS’ volunteer midwives took the opportunity to discuss the causes and treatments of a postpartum haemorrhage and how to manually remove the placenta should a similar case arise in the future. The local health workers soaked in the information and were actively engaged as they related the information to the mother they had lost just days before. Two University of Goroka Midwifery students who were completing their rural placement aboard the MV YWAM PNG were also participating in the in-service training.
The next morning, the health workers were assisting another woman in labour. The woman birthed the baby successfully but proceeded to have a postpartum haemorrhage shortly after delivery. One of YWAM MS’ midwives was with them during the birth and encouraged them as they began to administer the necessary treatment they had just learned about the day before. The bleeding slowed down and the mother made a full recovery!
The health workers grew in their confidence that day as they applied the information they had learned in a real-life situation. The education was more than an exercise – it saved a life.
Midwives are invited to volunteer aboard the MV YWAM PNG in 2020 for as little as two weeks. To see dates and more information, visit https://ywamships.org/medical-ship/volunteer/
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