The Nepalese Government has set itself the goal of significantly reducing maternal and newborn mortality. One of its aims is to incorporate simulation-based education into the training of midwives, nurses and doctors in order to prevent medical errors and protect the health of mothers and newborns. For the manufacturers of solutions supporting simulation-based education, this opens up new market opportunities and – as a result of the changes to training – access to urgently needed and qualified specialist staff. Against this background, the Indian branch of the Norwegian simulation solutions provider, Laerdal, cooperated with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH within the framework of the develoPPP programme of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
Overview
- Categories
- Topics: Health
- Health: SRHR
- Countries
- Nepal
- Project duration
- 2018 to 2021
Context
Despite significant progress made in the training of midwives in Nepal, there is still potential for improvement to close the gap on international standards. Particularly in remote areas, training courses in emergency response and intensive hospital care are scarce, and there is a shortage of professionals. Until now, training has mostly taken place directly with the patient, a practice that can lead to treatment errors.
Objective
The aim of the project was to integrate simulation-based education into the training of midwives and health care professionals in order to improve maternal and newborn care in Nepal.
Approach
Laerdal, the largest manufacturer of patient simulators for medical emergency care training worldwide, cooperated with GIZ under the develoPPP programme of the German Development Ministry (BMZ) to improve the quality of medical maternal and newborn care in Nepal. For this purpose, a total of over 1,000 students of midwifery, medical and nursing courses as well as health care professionals received training using simulation-based learning methods. With simulations it is possible to learn how to respond in practice in situations during childbirth and medical emergencies without putting the patient’s health at risk.
Impact
During the three-year project, the partners were able to integrate simulation-based training as a fixed element of the national curriculum for midwives and birth attendants. Simulation-based learning has meanwhile become an integral component at central universities and educational institutions in Nepal, with over 85% of prospective midwives learning on patient simulators. In addition, two simulation laboratories were set up. Equipped with manikins, a computer room for online simulations and a room for debriefing, among other resources, the labs will remain available for the educational institutions in the region to use after the end of the project. For the manufacturers of solutions supporting simulation-based education, this has opened up new market opportunities and ultimately also access to urgently needed and qualified specialist staff.
