Case Report of an Irish NGO Providing Educational Support in Establishing a Major Trauma Center in a Low-Middle-Income Country

Abstract

Introduction:

St. Joseph's Mission Hospital, Nyabonda, Kenya is the site chosen for a new Trauma Response Center as part of a new national highway development scheme. This highway will significantly increase in traffic volume expected in the region. With increased traffic volume, there will be an expected increase in trauma presentations as well as medical presentations due to increased populations in the area. This center is expected to serve a population of four million people. To date, the majority of nurses, medical officers and doctors in the pre-existing facility received no formal post graduate training in medical and surgical emergencies.

Method:

Global Emergency Medical Skills (GECS) is a registered charity, with an aim to provide medical education for the management of both trauma and medical emergencies for both adults and children. GECS was invited to attend St. Joseph's Missionary Hospital to provide education to nurses, medical officers and doctors. A curriculum encompassing the management of medical and surgical emergencies through both didactic lectures, practical skills training and simulation based workshops was composed and delivered by a group of 11 faculty, crossing Emergency Medicine, Intensive Care, Anesthesia and General Medicine. This curriculum had 28 participants and was conducted over a five day period. A "train the trainer" model was employed to ensure the strongest candidates were chosen for further training on how to deliver course material and organized simulations for future colleagues in St. Josephs Trauma Center.

Results:

Questionnaires of both staff and students have highlighted the utility of GECS and its curriculum in preparing staff for the opening of this new trauma center.

Conclusion:

This program was the first of its kind undertaken in St. Joseph's Hospital and has provided valuable education to the staff of this new trauma center. This project has enabled the continuity of this knowledge through chosen trainers.