Women from the Tambul/Nebilyer District of Western Highlands are now equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to help pregnant mothers deliver safely in their respective areas.

This follows their attendance of a month-long training course for village birth attendants at the Mt Hagen Hospital campus of the Western Highlands Provincial Health Authority recently.

The course which involves both theory and practical sessions has been funded by the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) as part of its ongoing efforts to help reduce child mortality in the country.

UNICEF has provided funding for transport and accommodation costs for 20 participants from villages in the Kiripia and Alkena areas of Lower Kagul and Tambul in Upper Kagul to undertake the training.

The women, mostly middle-aged mothers have been trained on how to help expectant mothers when they go into labour and later take them to the nearest health centre or hospital to deliver.

They have also been issued with emergency delivery kits to assist expectant mothers if they are unable to attend a health facility because of access or time constraints.

Two more training courses would be conducted for mothers from the same district in the next few months before it is rolled out to other districts of Western Highlands.

The training will be provided by staff from WHPHA and accommodation for the participants is being provided on the Mt Hagen Hospital campus which is also where the participants will receive their practical training.

The mothers spent two weeks acquiring hands-on experience in the labour ward, postnatal, antenatal and maternal and child health clinics of Mt Hagen Hospital before they were issued with certificates of recognition as qualified village birth attendants.