Mano a Mano’s Health Education Programs in 2013

A central component of Mano a Mano’s health program is providing health education, both to the community as volunteer health promoters and to the clinic staff as ongoing health education.

Here is a look back at our health education programs in 2013, implemented by our counterpart organization Mano a Mano Bolivia:

Provided Continuing Health Education to 804 Bolivian Medical Professionals

Every year, Mano a Mano Bolivia staff and medical volunteers host continuing health education workshops for our medical staff from Mano a Mano clinics. In a typical year there are 3 workshops each for doctors, nurses, and dentists; since the program began Mano a Mano Bolivia has hosted 95 continuing education workshops.

In 2013, Mano a Mano Bolivia hosted 9 workshops, with 3 workshops each for doctors, nurses, and dentists:

• 146 doctors
• 160 nurses
• 113 dentists

In addition to the 9 continuing education workshops, Mano a Mano collaborated with Medical Educators for Latin America (MELA) on 2 conferences. The International Acute Care Conference in March 2013 was the 6th conference with MELA; these conferences are available to Mano a Mano clinic staff and also to other Bolivian medical professionals. All course topics are selected by attendees. This year’s conference had 355 participants; a 7th conference is taking place in early April 2014.

A practical session during the 6th International Acute Care Conference in March 2013.

MELA volunteers and Mano a Mano Bolivia staff also hosted a pilot ATLS (Advance Trauma Life Support) course in December 2013, which had 30 participants.

MELA volunteers, Mano a Mano Bolivia staff and volunteers, and attendees for the pilot trauma course in December 2013.

Trained 129 Volunteer Health Promoters

With every new clinic that we build (9 in 2013), Mano a Mano trains an average of 10 volunteer health promoters. These health promoters are trained in basic procedures in cases of emergencies – transporting injured patients, CPR, how to clear airways, basic knowledge on prevalent illnesses in their area, and how to recognize medical situations that require professional attention. We also go back to other communities where we have previously built a clinic to provide health promoter training on an ongoing basis.

In 2013, Mano a Mano Bolivia staff trained 129 volunteer health promoters in 12 communities.

Volunteer health promoter training for 8 community residents in San Pedro, June 2013 with Mano a Mano Bolivia staffmember Dr. Alexander Balderrama.

Volunteer health promoters in Copachunchu practicing how to move a patient.

Courses Taught by Volunteers

These health education courses are a lot of work to put together; in addition to Mano a Mano Bolivia staff who organize and host all of the sessions, a total of 102 doctors, nurses, and dentists volunteered their time and expertise for these workshops.

Continuing education workshop for dentists.

Most of these volunteers are Bolivian medical professionals, in addition to the volunteer medical professionals from MELA. In all, these volunteers covered 158 different topics throughout the year.

Thanks!

THANKS to everyone that helped make these workshops happen!