May 3, 2916 Đa Krông Medical Clinic - HBB and ECEB

 Today we taught 35 participants:  25 Traditional Birth Attendants and 10 Midwives.  We were supposed to have 3 more but they were unable to attend - two of them hit a dog while riding their motorcycle to class and the 3rd stopped to help them.  It is our understanding that they are OK, although one had to be hospitalized - we certainly hope she is OK.

The morning was an HBB refresher course for people who attended last year and the afternoon was an ECEB course.

This is the 3rd time that I have taught here and the 2nd time for Betsy.  One of the directors met us as we pulled up in our van and she was so glad to see us.  Wow - so nice.

It was quite hot today and we did not have functioning air conditioning but our participants were patient and smiling all day.

We started the day with an HBB refresher/review since all 34 had attended our HBB class here last year.  Then we taught the ECEB part.  Again, our new instructors did all of the teaching with us there to provide support and answer questions, as necessary.  We are so proud of them and the amazing job that they are doing.

But first - the view from my room.

Breakfast - always amazing in Vietnam.  I love congee but the rice is great as well and there is pho and vegetables and fresh fruit.  

Today breakfast was served across from our hotel, in the White Palace - a wedding and fancy dinner venue.

And you can get an 'American' breakfast of eggs cooked to order.

We found these cookies at the Coop Mart - really good - from Thailand.

We travel in our van (driven by Ky) to Đa Krông.  All of the instructors in the van together.

The instructors get right to work, setting up the room the way we like it.  Students help as well.

Phuong and Nhan - two of our instructors.

Nha - another instructor.

Ly - another instructor.

Phuong

Xuan - another instructor.

Cuc

We are teaching on the second floor of this building.  The participants park their motorbikes under the building, in the shade.

We are at a medical clinic - they see patients and there is a lot of administrative work in this building.

Many pictures of our students having fun.  Look at their smiles!  

Learning to use a bag and mask.  Most have never used one before.  We teach them how to use the bag and mask to breathe for a baby who is not breathing at birth.  9% of babies born will not breathe spontaneously but, with a little help, can open up their lungs and breathe on their own after just a couple of minutes.  Each participant receives her own bag and mask as well as bulb suction (penguin) to take home.  They can be taken apart, washed, and boiled.  We teach them how to take them apart and put them back together.

Birds in cages outside of the health center.

We have one instructor teach each section from the course and then we practice in small groups.  This picture shows the set up for the HBB class and we just add a few items for the ECEB class.

Warren in his 'office'.

Nguyet getting the food ready for the break.  She buys the food and brings it every day.  Water is heated to make instant coffee.  Everyone loves break!

The large flip charts are only available in English.  We had HBB flip charts printed in Vietnamese but could only afford to print them 8.5 inches by 11 inches.  They are paper with a thin plastic cover and will not stand up alone.  So Warren made cardboard stands held together by tape.  If we put a full water bottle under the stand it works great to hold up the flip charts.  The engineer at work (Warren)!

Cuc having students answer questions.

Lunch - we take 2 hours for lunch since many of the participants need to go home for lunch.  No one brings their lunch - even to work.  Everyone always goes out for lunch.  This is the Nhi Linh restaurant.  We get our own, air conditioned room.  Heaven in this heat!

Ky, our amazing driver, and Tam Nguyen.  We could not do this trip without them.

Nguyet and Dat - both speak English and work as interpreters.  Nguyet also fills out all of the certificates, and does all sorts of other things for us. 

Lunch - always amazing food!

Soup - bitter melon filled with a fish mixture.  Very good.

Steamed greens with garlic.  Sometimes morning glories or pumpkin tops.  My favorite.  OK, one of my favorites.

Ice - if the ice is round with holes in it then we can have it - it is made in a machine with purified water.

Blankets and wraps added for ECEB.

Pretend antibiotics, Vitamin K, Immunizations, and eye drops.

ECEB is not available in Vietnamese.  I debated about printing in English but decided to do so as the pictures are great.  I am so glad that we brought the English books.  The students love the pictures and take a lot of notes right in the books.

Everyone loves to pose with their wrapped baby as we practice good thermal care.

Amazing smiles!

The proud group!

This woman came late - I thought I asked her if she could come back tomorrow and thought she understood.  After we gave out the certificates, we found her in tears.  Her grandmother had died that morning (that is why she was late) and she does not drive and had to get her husband to bring her - and she said that she could not come back tomorrow.  So we gave her a certificate and bag and ECEB book.  I felt so bad but think that we made it all right in the end.  I certainly hope so.

Nha, Harriet, our birth attendant, and Nhan.

Betsy and Harriet - hot and tired but happy.  Nhan in the background.

We decided to take a walk around Dong Ha, after class.  Here are some sights.

We went to the Pid Pub - not what we though it would be - but had a drink and sat on the street people (and motorcycle) watching.

After we left Pid Pub, we wandered around and found a fancy hotel.  We decided to have dinner there and had a nice meal.  

And back to our hotel by cab.  A wonderful day!