Karen Department of Health and Welfare of Annual Report 2011

Program Training
In 2007 the KTMP developed curricula to train three tiers of KTMP health workers. There are
first aid, basic, and advanced courses. In the field, medics teach other medics and also villagers.
The Village First Helper (VFH) program trains local villagers to approach and manage trauma
victims until the arrival of the trauma teams. A first aid training course developed by GHAP for
students and VFHs comprises 25 hours of training over five days. Basic trauma training for
village health workers (VHWs) and new medics comprises 75 hours of training over 15 days.
Advanced training courses, for medics with three or more years’ experience, vary from four to
ten days in length.
This year marks the 9th year of KDHW’s collaboration with GHAP for trauma training, and the
3rd year in Bleet Daweh. Since 2003, GHAP has conducted 19 trauma workshops and advanced
training courses for follow-up training for KDHW medics.
KTMP medics learn to perform the following procedures:
• A.B.C. (air, breathing, and circulation)
• Sterilization and Disinfection
• Splinting of Fractures
• Surgical Airway
• Chest Tube
• Fasciotomy
• Amputation
• Transfusion
• Wound care
• Patient referral
Additionally, mental health training has been introduced as a complement to the
surgical/clinical advanced course, focusing on self-care to improve the well-being of the health
workers in addition to teaching health workers how to counsel victims of trauma and their
families.
Future plans
Funding is being sought for KDHW plans to train more trauma teams in order to extend the
program to more areas, and for capacity building.
We thank our partners in the KTMP:
Not on Our Watch (funding)
Direct Relief International (funding)
Australian Aid International (training)
International Rescue Committee (funding)
Global Health Access Program (technical support)
International Committee of the Red Cross (training)
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