US embassy cable - 05DJIBOUTI432

UNCLAS DJIBOUTI 000432 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF AND AF/E 
STATE PASS USAID 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: PREL, PGOV, EAID, SOCI, DJ 
SUBJECT:  TRAINING RURAL HEALTH NURSES AND MIDWIVES 
 
 
1. (U)  On April 25, for the first time in the history of 
Djibouti, the Minister of Health opened a three-day 
training session for nine rural health post nurses and 
midwives outside of the city capital at the District 
Hospital in Ali Sabieh. The nurses and midwives represent 
the five health post communities in the Ali Sabieh 
district.  This ceremony also formally announced to the 
public that USAID's effort to assist the Djiboutian 
Ministry of Health to reform the health sector had begun 
the second phase of training, focusing on health staff at 
the district level. 
 
2. (U)  In attendance at this ceremony, in addition to the 
Minister of Health, were the District Commissioner, the 
USAID Senior Health Advisor, the Chief of Party of the 
USAID-funded health reform project and Ministry of Health 
officials. Also present were district trainers and some 
USAID project staff.  All presenters pointed out the 
historic importance of this training as well as the fact 
that the rural health post staffs are the frontline in the 
effort to reduce child and maternal morbidity and 
mortality. 
 
3. (U)  Trainers were composed of district staff who 
participated in the "training of trainers" course held in 
the capital in March 2005, as well as USAID health project 
staff responsible for training.  The three-day course was 
focused on health care basics such as prevention of 
infections, universal precautions and management of 
childhood illnesses. 
Training courses for rural health post staff are to be held 
over the course of the coming year and will follow the 
three-day format, in order to prevent long absences of 
health workers from health posts. Each training session 
will be repeated in each of the five districts.  USAID 
project staff will be on hand to supervise and insure 
quality of the training.  Follow-on training sessions will 
take place in May and June. The next round of training will 
focus on growth monitoring and nutrition in children as 
well as routine immunization techniques and record keeping. 
 
4. (U) Comment: That this was the first health training 
ever done outside of the capital is a significant departure 
for the Ministry.  Rural health posts had been virtually 
ignored until the beginning of the USAID financed project. 
Now with health posts staff being trained and communities 
mobilized, there is hope for a real impact on the well 
being of mothers and children living in rural communities. 
RAGSDALE