Karen health workers start Auxiliary Obstetrician Training

The Back Pack Health Worker Team (BPHWT) and Phalon Education Development Unit (PEDU) began a seven-month auxiliary obstetrician-training course on March 31, in Pa-an Township, Karen State.

The training opening ceremony was held in Taunggalay village and nearly 40-people attended the opening ceremony, including the BPHWT’s director, Saw Kyaw Win, Karen State Health directorate Dr. Win Naing, village administrators, health workers and trainees.

Speaking at the ceremony Dr Win Naing said.

“The State chief minister has given instruction to place auxiliary obstetricians in each village. In our country we need doctors, nurses as well as auxiliary obstetricians. In this transition [ceasefire] period, I would like to use health as a bridge for peace.”

Saw Kyaw Win said the auxiliary obstetrician-training course will take up to seven-months, and participants will study theory for three months as well as working for four months in remote villages.

Senior health workers, obstetricians, doctors and nurses will teach the 20-participants from Pa-an and Kawkareik Township.

Nan Ae Mi, from Laung Kai village, in Kawkareik Township who will attend the training said. “Our family and other families in and around our village live in remote areas that is far from town. They have difficulty to access medical treatment. It is for that reason, that I aim to apply in my village what I will learn at the training.”