HOSPITAL TRAINS TO SAVE BABIES LIVES

September 01, 2005

By Tom Burkindine
The Kaselehlie Press

Nurses at the Pohnpei State Hospital were recently trained in how to better deal with saving the lives of infants. A team of doctors and registered nurses visited the hospital in August to administer a two-day training session in neonatal resuscitation.

The volunteers were part of a humanitarian aid project of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints. The training was designed to better prepare the nurses for medical problems in infants. The nurses were given different scenarios of post-birth difficulties and used their recent training to treat dolls representing infants.

Dr. Ianser Edward, of the Pohnpei State Hospital, said the training would help to decrease the infant mortality rate on Pohnpei. "This will hopefully help to increase the survival rate of newborns," Edward said. Following the completion of their training, the nurses were given certificates showing they had completed the course. Edward said he hoped the hospital can continue the training using the certified nurses to pass on what they have learned. The team from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints included Medical Director Joan Hulme, R.N., Dr. Scott Gunn, M.D., and Tallie Thornton, R.N.