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PharmAccess Tanzania joined efforts with advisory firm Dalberg International to conduct online training of trainers to the Regional Health Medical Team (RHMT) in Manyara, to help healthcare providers manage COVID-19 at their facilities.
Particularly in developing countries, resource inadequacy and under preparedness have been one of the setbacks to overcome the COVID-19 pandemic. That is why PharmAccess Tanzania joined efforts with advisory firm Dalberg International to conduct online ‘training of trainers’ to the Regional Health Medical Team (RHMT) in Manyara, to help them manage COVID-19 at their facilities.
“In order to continue to combat COVID 19, there is a need of further trainings to equip the healthcare providers with relevant knowledge and skills to manage different aspects of the disease” stated the Regional Medical Officer, Dr. Damas Kayera. The objective of the training was to increase protection and limit transmission between health providers and patients.
The training involved twelve RHMT members and focused on seven thematic areas including case definition, screening and triaging of patients suspected of COVID-19, transportation and isolation of patients and treatment, laboratory samples management, general precautions, including IPC measures, communication of information related to COVID-19 and burial of the dead.
After the training, the trainees implemented several improvements in their facilities, including:
i. Transportation of patients in separate area from driver and escorting staff. Initially COVID-19 patients were transferred like any other patients in the ambulance.
ii. Limitation of one hour for staff to stay in the treatment room. Before the training they stayed for up to five hours in the room.
iii. Introducing a minimum of two staff members in the treatment room, initially a single staff would serve alone.
To extend the reach of the training, the RHMT team will pass on the knowledge and start training staff members at 10 healthcare facilities (that run the PharmAccess MomCare program) and seven Council Health Management Teams.
