Training boosts confidence

By PHOEBE GWANGILO
NURSE Angela Toedi says she can now confidently provide effective family planning advice and services in Daru, Western, after being trained by a non-governmental organisation.
“Today is the last day of our two-week training and I can honestly say that I am now confident to give counselling after making the pain management assessment,” she told The National on Friday at the Marie Stopes office in Port Moresby.
Toedi, 26, said despite her six years of practising nursing in government hospitals and clinics, she lacked the right skills in dealing with people turning up for family planning advice.
“I learn that infection prevention is fundamental for quality service in Marie Stopes,” she said.
Toedi was among nine nurses including a health extension officer that underwent a two-week National Family Training Programme with Marie Stopes.
The training gave the trainees a deeper understanding of the need for contraception in communities as well as improving clinical skills and providing sexual reproductive health services.
Toedi said that in one of her practicals, she used the “ready frame work” to assess women requesting implants for birth control.
“I learnt what to say, and what not say. There were guidelines I followed,” Toedi said.
“Skills like these I had no knowledge of after graduating from college and working.
“It was through this training that I learned.”
Toedi thanked Marie Stopes for giving her the opportunity to be up-skilled in the area of family planning.
The training was carried out by family planning master trainer nurse Sion Dage.
She said her interest in helping women in the area of family planning led her to join Marie Stopes.
“I have the interest of helping women especially in making family planning which led me to joining Marie Stopes a month ago,” she said.