Fifty midwives were recently awarded certificates after a successful completion of a two week training on the use of partograph, at a ceremony held at the Royal Victoria Teaching Hospital (RVTH).

The training, held at the Management Board Room of RVTH, was sponsored by Sheikh Abdullah Jah Charitable Foundation (SAJCF).

Speaking at the closing ceremony, Dr Tamsir Mbowe, Director of Health Services, duelled on the significance of partograph. He said that it was one of the most important tools in the management of labour cases. Dr Mbowe quoted one of his lecturers, whom he said had defined partograph as a visual/graphical representation of related values or events over the course of labour, in which relevant measurements might include statistics such as cervical dilation, fetal heart rate or other vital signs on coat.

He said that one’s understanding of partograph and its value and role would help them in the effective management of labour cases and reduce the incidence of maternal morbidity and mortality. And, finally, expressed his confidence that the midwives would utilise the knowledge gained from the training to the best of their abilities.

Speaking earlier, Dr Omar Jah, president of Sheikh Abdullah Jah Charitable Foundation (SAJCF), expressed optimism that the training would add value to the skills and abilities of the trainees, to enable them perform their work more effectively and help reduce the alarming rate of maternal and new born mortality in this country. He further went on:

“when we agreed to assist in funding the training we had been driven by the awareness that incident of new born, infant and morternal mortality had been considerably reduced if not completely eradicated in many countries of the world today. If it can be done in those countries then it should be possible in The Gambia.

” Dr Jah stressed his  foundations’ commitment to continue their collaborative partnership with the department of state for health in general and RVTH in particular, in improving the health conditions of “our health services at all level”. He also reiterated that they would continue in complementing the commendable efforts of our government under the leadership of president Yahya Jammeh, especially in the field of health services.

For her part, Dr Mariatou Jallow, Chief Medical Director RVTH, said the need for the training was prompted by the urgent need to improve the quality of care to pregnant women and new borns.

Ebba Secka, the nurse in charge of Gambia Health Centre, delivered the vote of thanks on behalf of his colleagues. He spoke at length on the importance of the training and finally solicited for this type of training to be extended to other regions in the country.