Medical workers preparing for ICU training simulation exercise at Setthathirath Hospital, Vientiane Capital. Credit: WHO / S Khounpaseuth
COVID-19 has impacted the lives of millions of people around the world, especially health workers, some of whom have died because of infection caused by COVID-19 while providing care and treatment to patients in health facilities. To minimize the risks of COVID-19 infection and build capacity of health workers in Lao People’s Democratic Republic, WHO has been working with the Ministry of Health to provide training for ICU staff working at central and provincial hospitals.
Deputy Director of Mahosot Hospital and the President of Lao Society of Critical Care Medicine, Dr Khamsay Dethleuxay said “Doctors and nurses have been well-equipped with ICU management skills for common diseases, but not for COVID-19 as it is an emerging deadly disease. Thus, there is a need to train them on how to deal with COVID-19 patients safely."
Simulation exercise on how to safely put a COVID-19 patient on a ventilator. Credit: WHO / S Khounpaseuth
On 25 and 26 August, around 20 doctors and nurses from central hospitals such as Setthathirath Hospital, 103 Hospital, Police Hospital, and Mother and Child Hospital participated in a two-day ICU training at the Setthathirath Hospital organized by the Ministry of Health and WHO, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and Australia Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Hands on training on how to safely put a COVID-19 patient on a ventilator, demonstrated by the local trainerCredit: WHO / S Khounpaseuth
The training was designed by Dr Rebecca Inglis, based on a four-year collaboration with the Lao Society of Critical Care Medicine. It used interactive teaching and simulation on how to deliver mechanical ventilation safely and how to provide high quality daily care to the COVID-19 ventilated patients, while implementing key infection prevention and control measures. Dr Inglis has trained a team of doctors and nurses to deliver the training which has been specifically adapted to the Lao context.
WHO Representative to Lao People’s Democratic Republic Dr Mark Jacobs said “The training builds the capacity of key staff to provide quality care for their patients, and to practice in a way that also keeps these staff and their colleagues safe. This is an important contribution to the fight against COVID-19 in Lao PDR.”
Dr Rebecca Inglis ensuring the simulation exercise has been conducted properly. Credit: WHO / S Khounpaseuth