Saving Young Lives project sets off to Ghana to train nurses on basic principles of PD
This summer, the Saving Young Lives project organized its first training session in Ghana, both in the centers of Accra and Kumasi.
The Saving Young Lives project is a partnership between ISN, IPNA and ISPD and SKCF seeking to develop acute peritoneal dialysis program in hospital centers across Africa and South East Asia.
Last year, a number of programs already kicked off in Africa: in Ghana, Tanzania, Benin and more recently, Ethiopia and Uganda.
The program is focused on education and training of staff within the hospital centers. The aim is to bring the educational resources right at the door step of the local medical professionals and help them provide much needed care to patients with Acute Kidney Injury (AKI)
The training that was held in Ghana this summer was able help nurses to understand the basic principles of Peritoneal Dialysis.
Seth Johnson, from the Renal Research Institute (RRI) / Sustainable Kidney Care Foundation (SCKF), flew in Ghana for two weeks.
Mr. Johnson visited first the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra Ghana, where a peritoneal dialysis unit is being set up, led by pediatric nephrologists Dr. Victoria Adabayeri.
He also visited the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, where a PD unit has been well established for a couple of years, led by Dr. Sampson Antwi. This centre in Kumasi is now hoping to become a regional centre of training and education pon AKI and PD for young children.
Mr. Johnson trained a number of nurses, mixing theory and practice, performing exchange, care of catheter exit site, and troubleshooting complications. He also taught them the principles of infection prevention and hand hygiene.
The level of enthusiasm and commitment was very high. Participants were “hungry” for information and willing to learn and practice the learned skills.
Mr. Johnsons testified: “The level of readiness and enthusiasm among participants was great, and that made the program worthwhile. In centre, a pediatric physician travelled 3 hours to be at the training throughout, because she wanted to acquire the skills and provide emergency care for children who may show up at the clinic with Akute Kidney Injury (AKI).”
Find out more about the Saving Young Lives Project HERE.
