VOCATIONAL TRAINING TEAM WORKING IN MONGOLIA

The  primary goal was to support maternal and infant health education in Mongolia.
 
Funded by the Rotary Foundation and led by Gary Dennison from Waimate this team included: Samantha Turner Gisborne Rotary Club, Julie Dockrill Timaru Rotary Club, Beverly Te Huia  from Napier,  Adrienne Palmer from Melbourne and Ariunaa Gerelsaikhan (an Interpreter).
 

The VTT were met on arrival at the airport by local Rotarians and their close support and encouragement continued for the duration of the project.
 
Local Rotarians attended the opening ceremony as well as part of the first CBE training course; the team visited their Club and exchanged banners as well as attending the hosted dinner in honour of President Ravindran's visit to Mongolia.
 
We had regular meetings with local Rotarians to report on progress and to arrange budgetary support for the VTT team. Their local knowledge for arranging team transport and Hotels was exemplary and realized considerable cost savings for the Project. Their assistance with the purchase of monitoring equipment and customs clearance was extremely helpful.


Some Achievements included:

 
  • Phase I student Mr Enkhbold from U.B, advertises classes on Facebook and holds them in a church twice a month on a gratis basis. 3500 followers online and an average class size of 20 persons. 4 course participants in Sainshand were also identified as having launched rural community based CBE training post phase one course delivery.
     
  • Promotion included a Movie of the Project which has been launched on YouTube as well as being presented at the RIP dinner in Mongolia, which conveniently took place while the team was rolling out the training in-country. Plan to also launch on Rotary Showcase.
     
  • Public awareness of CBE benefits through the TV broadcast of the Project opening ceremony, plus some interviews which were aired on the Local TV News, over all 10 television channels in Mongolia.
     
  • Dr Tsetsegmaa head of the Midwifery department of Mongolia’s peak medical university was awarded a PHF by the Rotary Club of Ulaanbaatar in recognition of her untiring support for the VTT Project. Dr Tsetsegmaa’s work in translating the CBE manual as well as keeping an open mind on the realisation of potential benefits gained through changing training methodology and delivery techniques was commendable. Dr Tsetsegmaa’s  legacy will be very significant to how CBE training and practices are delivered in Mongolia going forward.
  • The Production and printing of 600 copies of a Mongolian language version of the Maternal Health Training Manual provided for the first time in Mongolia.
     
  • The CBE Manual has been adopted and endorsed by the Ministry of Health as the nationwide standardised Maternal and Infant Healthcare training curriculum.  Delivery will be primarily through the National University of Medical Sciences into the respective Schools of Medicine in Ulaanbaatar, Darkhan and Sainshand as well as hospitals and Clinics located in the Provinces (Aimags and Soums).
     
  • The Primary CBE Trainer from the Medical University of Ulaanbaatar has already undertaken two CBE courses in the countryside for 400 students using the new training curriculum. All future training classes will follow the newly mandated curriculum.
     
  • The CBE manual additionally provides an on-going resource of re-printable training material for posters and clinical references.
     
  • A higher level of training of CBE healthcare professionals has contributed to a nationwide improvement in CBE delivery through the early adoption of an international best-practice training programme.
     
  • As the VTT delivered the training course the VTT observed and as necessary adjusted the curriculum to meet the knowledge level of course participants. This included delivering current evidence and research based best practice information to assist each course group to achieve better maternal and infant health outcomes.
     
  • CBE Manuals and infant health posters, flyers, pamphlets, brochures and other relevant educational materials have been printed and widely distributed throughout Mongolia. Reviewed availability of Community based public/private CBE Services to distribute the translated Project flyers and posters (No IP Restrictions).
     
  • Midwives from the Bayanzurkh Clinic in UB who attended our CBE Training course are already running CBE classes at the Clinic. Clinic has 6000 customers  on the register. Resources are minimal – Provide a CBE Kit