April 30, 2016 Vietnam Liberation Day/Reunification Day

Reunification Day (Ngày Thống nhất), Victory Day (Ngày Chiến thắng) or Liberation Day (Ngày Giải phóng or Ngày Giải phóng miền Nam) is a public holiday in Vietnam that marks the event when Viet Cong and North Vietnamese troops captured Saigon on April 30, 1975. This signaled the end of the Vietnam War.  It was the start of the transition period toward reunification, which occurred July 2, 1976, when the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Vietnam and North Vietnam merged to form the modern-day Vietnam or the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.  There are festivals, speeches, fireworks, and it is a government holiday so we cannot teach.

April 29, 2016 ECEB - Essential Care for Every Baby

Today our 36 participants from yesterday returned for the ECEB course.  The materials are not yet available in Vietnamese, so all that we have is printed in English.  There are wonderful pictures that illustrate the concepts but it is difficult for non-English readers to teach the course without assistance. Xuan Nhan, one of our instructors, speaks and reads both English and Vietnamese so taught a lot of the course today,  The students were all there early and everyone helped in setting up for the class.

But first, the view from my room.  The day started out overcast, even rained a little, but then brightened as the day went on.

The hotel and breakfast.  

The view from Vinh Linh clinic.

The clinic is getting ready for the big Reunification Day holiday tomorrow April 30.

In ECEB, we focus on the first 90 minutes of a newborn's life.  Breathing, sucking, temperature, and muscle tone are all being assessed.  In addition, we talk about providing eye care, Vitamin K, cord care, and immunizations.  And we talk about the danger signs that a newborn may have, indicating that they are sick and  need antibiotics and a hospital visit.  For babies that are having trouble maintaining their temperature, we practice skin to skin care with the baby wrapped up to the mother.  

Behind the scenes in all of these classes, you will find Tam, Dat, and Nguyen.  Tam and Dat have done all of the organizing and Dat is one of our interpreters.  They also set up for the breaks each day as well as help us load and unload equipment every day,.  

Our participants could break for 15 minutes or a half an hour.  They do not seem worried about time and are not in a rush.  Very different than back at home.  The class continued with more practice and discussion.  

And, at the end of the class, our certificate ceremony.  Thirty six new physicians, physician assistants, midwives, traditional birth attendants trained in Essential Care for Every Baby - and six wonderful ECEB facilitators!  We are proud!

And our instructors with Tam on the steps of the clinic.  Everyone is so proud - it is fun to see.  Now we have three days off as there are national holidays.