In Gear | Rotary in Southern New Zealand Issue 1 | Page 10

included a three-day childbirth education course and a one-day emergency skills clinic. Along the way, the VTT realised the project was gaining quite a reputation. “We were a bit blown away by the number of doctors, obstetricians – quite senior doctors – who were at the classes, saying they needed an update,” Gary says. MONGOLIAN VOCATIONAL TRAINING TEAM “And the manual, well that blew them away as well.” The positive spinoffs from the latest VTT visit were almost immediate. The chief maternity lecturer at Ulaanbaatar University underwent the training in the first week the team arrived in Mongolia. That weekend she was already out sharing her new-found knowledge and skills at a session with 500 students. Instant sustainability, says Gary. “She was smiling all the way through the course – she said: this is exactly what we need. Two cultures collide - a little touch of New Zealand amidst maternal health information translated in to Mongolian. participatory, experiential learning experience. The people in Mongolia weren’t at all used to that – they’re used to being ‘talked at’ in training. “The front row of glum faces at the start said it all. They “That was a graphic display of how far the project’s actually have an impish sense of humour, so they loved impact is spreading, and how quickly. It’s like finger-like the team’s style. There was a lot of fun and laughter. tendrils that are going “At the end, the out in all directions, comments were all and you can’t even ... you leave knowing you’ve made along the lines of: guess as to the total a difference and left a legacy, and what you have done effect it’s having ... it’s for our country, our that’s what we join Rotary for.” the snowball effect health system, is in action before your Gary Dennison, mindboggling. eyes.” With the help of the project’s influence, the country’s Ministry of Health has made childbirth education compulsory for all Mongolia’s expectant mothers, who must attend a minimum of three classes to qualify for the new Government welfare child support payments programme. Anecdotally, the feedback the VTT’s received from their Mongolian colleagues, Gary says, has been consistently powerful. And, it’s not just what’s being taught, but how it’s being conveyed. “The team delivers very much the interactive, Rotary Club of Waimate “That gave us warm fuzzies – when you leave, you leave knowing you’ve made a difference and left a legacy, and that’s what we join Rotary for.” Statistically, the data shows, since its inception, the Mongolian Maternal Health Project has made a lifesaving difference. Between 2013 and 2015, infant mortality rates dropped 66 percent, while maternal deaths dived more than 70 percent . In what’s likely to be the “full-stop” to the project, the team is planning a final trip to Mongolia in 2018 to build on the emergency obstetrics and clinical skills training delivered this year, with an emphasis on resuscitation – and saving more lives. HELP US HELP MONGOLIA We can do more to build on Rotary’s great work in Mongolia – but we need your club’s help. Much like polio was many years ago, hepatitis remains a problem throughout the country, a problem that can be solved with a simple inoculation. If your club is willing to donate to help tackle hepatitis in Mongolia, please contact Gary Dennison, of the Rotary Club of Waimate – email: [email protected]. Page 10 | In Gear - Rotary in Southern New Zealand - District 9980 | www.rotarydistrict9980.org