After a few rousing rounds of the card game Palace last night (always good for bonding!), today our Tiny People Matter Zambia 2024 team really got down to Helping Babies Breathe (HBB) business. The team visited locations in the Copperbelt region focusing on healthcare, education, and collaboration with key leaders. Amidst all the work, we made time for some more fun and reflection, making this trip both impactful and memorable. Here are the highlights:
Political Engagements We kicked off our work today by meeting with the President of Ministers for the Copperbelt Region, the Minister of Health in Luanshya, and the Nursing Director for Maternal and Child Health. These discussions are crucial in strengthening political and clinical partnerships to improve maternal and neonatal healthcare in the region. Roan Antelope School of Midwifery At the Roan Antelope School of Midwifery, we met with the Dean, faculty, and 100 enthusiastic third-year students. They cheered loudly as each member of the team was introduced, but the VERY loudly for Amy (who is a nurse and a midwife ) and for Kevin (when he announced that he was a retired policeman AND engaged to be married to Melissa - they REALLY loved that and cheered LOUDEST!!! ). We discussed our plans to teach essential neonatal resuscitation skills through HBB, which will equip these future midwives to handle newborn emergencies and improve healthcare outcomes in their communities. We also will augment the neonatal education in HBB with integrated World Health Organization (WHO) education named Helping Mothers Survive (led by Amy) and additional education that focuses on breastfeeding (led by Sara) and neonatal aftercare in the immediate postpartum period. A Day of Errands (and a little fun)
While in Luansha we took a quick trip to ShopRite to grab essentials. Kevin couldn’t resist indulging in some “essential” ice cream while we were there! We also made a stop at the pharmacy to get medicine for Melissa’s laryngitis. Wrapping Up We capped off the evening by reviewing the skills we plan to teach and finalizing our plans for the next day’s activities, ensuring that we are prepared to make the most of our time here. This trip is not just about direct education work; is about building connections and sharing all of our core values: Educate, Empower, and Encourage others to improve healthcare in Zambia. We also managed to get a few more “E” words in there today as we tend to equip and entertain along the way! We look forward to continuing this journey with you who support the work and together making a lasting impact. Stay tuned for more updates!
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