Training Wound Management

Training Wound Management 24 February – 12 March 2006 - By Helen Boon

In 2004 I was asked by Muriel Armstrong, a KAP trustee if I would consider visiting the Kenyan Acorn Hospital in Ndhiwa West Kenya to deliver teaching in relation to wound management, I had previously worked in Tanzania, Nepal and Sierra Leone as a volunteer doing similar work.

My initial visit was in October 2005, arrangements where discussed with Rosalyn Ogada for my return visit in 2006 to teach.  The arrangements that we discussed did not come to fruition and on my return Rosalyn and I had to hurriedly enrol nurses from the Acorn Hospital and government facilities to attend for the training/workshop.

In total 13 nurses attended the training, of these 4 where from government facilities, these attended in the first week.  No government staff attended in the 2^nd week as they were informed that there was no sitting fee!

Each training was for 3 days, topics covered included, anatomy and physiology of skin and wound healing, wound assessment, wound classification, infected wounds and there management, moist wound versus dry wound healing, use of honey as a dressing, wound measurement, factors that affect wound healing, nutrition.

The teaching methods included lectures, group work, discussions and student presentations.  The students were active participants in the workshop not passive recipients.  I had prepared hand outs for each of the topics and the students received these at the end of each day.  Note books and pens where also provided.

At the completion of the training each of the students received a certificate of attendance. Each certificate was printed on embossed paper, Caroline at the Ndhiwa Resource and Training Centre designed the certificate and included the KAP logo.  The District Medical Officer and I signed each one, photos where taken of each group and these are now on there way to Ndhiwa.

Each of the groups evaluated the training, the evaluation was generally positive, everyone learnt something new that they could include in their clinical practice, however a number asked that sitting fees be considered next time!  I have been asked to consider a workshop relating to burns as this is a problem area, I would hope to deliver this on my next visit.

While organising the training I visited Homa Bay District General Hospital and had the opportunity to discuss with Mr Lusi training for the staff at the hospital.  He would have sent staff  to Ndhiwa if he had had sufficient notice but he has invited me to teach at the hospital.  This I would hope to do later this year.

From this training I would hope that the outcomes for patients with wounds would be improved, that there would be fewer chronic problems from wounds that reduce the quality of life for people and that can have a huge impact on their ability to work and care for themselves and their families.