Empowering Community Mother and Child Care Assistants (CoMCA): Enhancing Neonatal Care through Knowledge Sharing
The Life Abundant Primary Healthcare program (LAP) of the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health Services, from December 16-18, 2024, hosted a ground-breaking 3-day neonatal care course and workshop, specifically designed for Community Mother and Child Care Assistants (CoMCA).
Neonatal care is a crucial component of healthcare that calls for specific expertise and knowledge to ensure the best possible outcomes for new-borns. This pivotal programme aims to decrease the level of high mortality rate in Cameroon, impact knowledge, empower CoMCA, and ultimately enhance the quality of neonatal care in Cameroon. This programme under the Banner of Maternal and Child health Advocacy international in collaboration with Advanced Life Support Group is owned by a non-governmental organisation in the United Kingdom known as NICHE INTERNATIONAL which has been running in Cameroon since 2016.
According to statistics provided by the course coordinator, Nze Grace, about 4 million babies die daily most of which come from developing countries. Out of 1000 babies that are born 28 lose their lives in Cameroon. CoMCAs play a vital role in providing essential healthcare services to mothers and new-borns. As the first point of contact apart from medical professionals for many families, they are instrumental in promoting healthy practices, detecting potential complications, and providing lifesaving interventions.
The course featured a comprehensive program, tailored to the unique needs and challenges of CoMCA. Key highlights include; A line-up of distinguished keynote speakers delivered informative presentations and explored critical topics like “Addressing Neonatal Infections such as sepsis, meningitis, conjunctivitis and Omphalitis, “Neonatal Jaundice”, “Recognising the ill baby”, “Optimising nutrition for premature babies”, “Neonatal Resuscitations” and “How to guide parents in providing hygienic environments for their babies”.
Madame Kenchi Hope, a leading expert in neonatal care, gave a thought-provoking presentation on convulsions in new born babies. Highlighting the importance of the general principles when handling issues in new-borns: (ABCD) meaning Airway, Breathing, Circulation and Don’t forget glucose.
The CoMCAs had the opportunity to interact with peers, exchange stories, and gain knowledge from one another in a cooperative and encouraging setting.
The Interactive workshops and skills stations provided CoMCAs with practical experience in essential neonatal care skills, including new-born assessment, umbilical cord care, and kangaroo mother care.
To improve the general standard of care given to preterm and term babies in Cameroon, best practices were shared, challenges addressed, and evidence-based treatments were encouraged, as the participants of this programme shared their utmost satisfaction with the course.
“I have a lot that I’ve gained from this refresher course. Some things that we were just taking easy but by going through this course, I have gained a lot of information” said CoMCA Gwendoline Musa.
Another participant, Anjeline Nkinye remarked, “This course will help me to go and take care of my baby. When I go to the field now and I practice what they taught me I can be seen as a real nurse although I am a CoMCA because of the experience we have here”.
From the successful CoMCA neonatal care course, it is hoped that neonatal care in the community will eventually improve the standard of care given to babies in Cameroon by investing in CoMCA’s education and training.
