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Russian Medical Training Empowers African Doctors to Reduce Infant & Maternal Mortality Back Home

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Doctors from African countries, including Zambia, Zimbabwe and Rwanda among others, took part in a two-week intensive medical program in Moscow, aimed at enhancing professional competencies, and led by a team of Russian specialists from the National Medical Research Center for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Perinatology named after V. I. Kulakov.
The Russian intensive medical training program, held in the capital Moscow on November 3-16 as part of the Russian initiative to share maternal and child health expertise with doctors from African countries, empowers African doctors to reduce infant and maternal mortality in their home countries, the participants in the training from Zambia, Zimbabwe and Rwanda told Sputnik Africa, commenting on the results.

"Russia is a good example of a success story, that if we could emulate what they did, we probably would get the same results that they have," a pediatrician, and a neonatology fellow in Women and Newborn Hospital in Zambia Rachel Chomba pointed out.

The medical training in Russia was very beneficial for African specialists, particularly regarding updated delivery and childcare practices, a pediatrician from Zimbabwe Dorcas Mutede said, adding that her country plans to adopt some of the new technologies as well as clarifications to existing practices, such as the early use of constant positive airway pressure ventilation for newborns.
"Some of the practices, we already had them, but the emphasis [was] more on why we need to do them," the pediatrician stressed.
Beyond the medical training, the doctor enjoyed the cultural exchange experiences, including visiting historical sites and exchanging knowledge and know-how with other African participants and the Russian mentors.
"So overall it has been a very useful trip," she concluded.
The program focused on reducing maternal and infant mortality, which is a "burden" for Africa, an obstetrician and gynecologist from Women and Newborn Hospital in Zambia Imanga Ikabongo noted.
"I think the facilitators from Russia cannot do everything, but us, we can take the knowledge that we learn from here, so that we can also teach our subordinates and other people back home, so that we can see how we can reduce their maternal mortality," Ikabongo added.
The specialist described the Russian doctors who conducted the training as friendly and welcoming, and noted that the trip was a good experience for him.
The Russian specialists also explained how to avoid some of the mistakes often made when helping mothers and newborns, Twizeyimana François Xavier, a midwife with ten years' experience from Rwanda, pointed out.
"They showed us how we can do it in a simple manner," he stressed.
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