Strengthening Maternal and Newborn Care Through Practical Training

Improving maternal and newborn healthcare requires not only medical tools available. It also depends on having skilled health workers who are confident and well- prepared to respond quickly when complications arise during pregnancy, childbirth, and after birth.

Through practical training programs, including Helping Mothers Survive (HMS) and Helping Babies Survive (HBS), Health Builders supports front-line maternal health workers, including midwives and nurses across Rwanda,  strengthening their skills to perform the most life-saving care procedures. 

Health care providers receiving HMS-HBS training in Rulindo District

Learning by doing to save lives 

In March, Health Builders organized a training-of-trainers in the Rulindo District. This training was different from a classroom lesson. Instead of just listening to theory, health workers practiced real-life situations using lifelike models that simulate mothers and newborns. They repeatedly practiced how to respond to emergencies such as heavy bleeding after childbirth or newborn breathing difficulties. This hands-on approach helps health workers build confidence and react quickly and correctly in real situations. 

Training that spreads across health facilities 

One important feature of this program is that participants do not only learn for themselves. They are also trained to teach and support other health workers in their facilities and communities.

This means the skills gained during training continue to spread, helping more health workers improve care for mothers and newborns over time. 

A story from Rutongo Hospital

Theresie Mukabayizere, Head Midwife of the Maternity Department at Rutongo Hospital is one of the health workers who took part in this training supported by Health Builders.

“The training helped me feel more confident and improved my practical skills in dealing with emergency situations affecting mothers and newborns,” she says. “It also helped me support and guide other health workers through sharing what I learned.”

— Theresie Mukabayizere

Today, Theresie  is actively supporting and mentoring other midwives and nurses at nearby health centers, helping them improve their responses to critical maternal and newborn complications, such as heavy bleeding after birth, high blood pressure during pregnancy, and helping newborns who struggle to breathe at birth. These are among the leading causes of maternal and newborn deaths. 

Building stronger health services for families 

Programs like this are part of Health Builders’ ongoing work to strengthen health systems, focusing on improving the quality of care for mothers and babies. 

By supporting continuous training and mentorship for health workers, Health Builders helps ensure that more mothers have safe pregnancies, more babies survive and thrive, and more families experience healthy beginnings.

A Mother’s Day reflection 

This Mother’s Day, Health Builders reaffirms its commitment to improving care for mothers and newborns and supporting the health workers who care for them every day. 

By investing in skilled health workers, we are helping build healthier mothers, healthier children, and stronger communities.