Midwifery training delivered as part of the Phoenix Project

The Midwifery Project of the University's  Phoenix Project  has moved on considerably with a second visit to the University of Namibia (UNAM) in Windhoek in June 2016 to deliver midwifery simulation training.

During the first visit in October 2015, it was identified that the midwifery lecturers have access to low fidelity simulation equipment but they requested support on how to develop simulation education effectively.

Grace Thomas, Lead Midwife for Education and Professional Head for Midwifery and Sarah Davies, Midwifery Lecturer, School of Healthcare Sciences accompanied by Kerry Phillips, Senior Midwife at Aneurin Bevan UHB ran a 4-day Training Simulation and Skill Trainers workshop at the University of Namibia.

The 24 participants were midwives whose work spanned clinical practice in each of the maternity units in Windhoek as well as the midwifery lecturing team from all 3 campuses of UNAM

Grace Thomas, said ‘All midwives   engaged fully in the workshop which evaluated extremely positively, with participants reporting that they enjoyed learning how to plan simulation effectively, utilising scripts and ensuring that debriefing takes place after simulation’

‘What also emerged was that the participants valued updating their own emergency obstetric skills and they felt confident to use the simulated scenario planning to enable this, both in the academic and clinical setting.’

‘Another excellent outcome of this visit was that nursing and midwifery students at the south Keetmanshoop Campus of UNAM have launched the first Midwifery Society in Namibia, with the support of the Cardiff University Midwifery Society’

‘Students from both universities have commenced a virtual buddying scheme to enable sharing of ideas and best practice in midwifery. There is also an agreement for international exchanges of students with the School of Healthcare Sciences. This will be signed imminently with exchange visits commencing in 2017’

The next visit to Namibia is scheduled for February 2017 where the midwifery team have been asked to continue their work by visiting the Oshakati campus in the north with the aim of reaching midwives who deal with the challenges of rural communities.