Week of Jan 12, 2015
Helping Babies Breathe training in Jakarta and Padang.
This is the 2nd time this project has been held in Indonesia. (See October 2013 write up and the January 2014 Church News for details on the previous project).  The blessing of this project is to train local physicians who in turn will train midwives in helping to resuscitate babies that are born not breathing. Latter Day Saint Charities provides the expert trainers, manuals, workbooks, NeoNatalies, (baby size mannequin) and other resources, and partners with a local medical group to execute the program. The end result will be to help reduce infant mortality.


                                   Jakarta Train the Trainer

Opening ceremonies: Dr Eriyati, one of the leaders of Perinasia ( Indonesian medical group partner), welcoming the group to the training in Jakarta. 30 physicians are here today from all over Indonesia. They will in turn be tasked to train 600 midwives in the coming 10 months.

President Djarot, Jakarta Stake President, representing the church and explaining the churches humanitarian efforts. He said help is given throughout the world regardless of race or religion. The funds to help, come from donations of church members and others from here in Indonesia and throughout the world.

 

Dr Michael Visick, Pediatrician from Utah who lead the training, along with his wife Liz, who takes care of much of the administration. They take time away from their family to help share their skills to others in different areas of the world. They have trained in 24 countries.
We have enjoyed the rich association with them in this great work.

 

Becky Wayment, a neonatal intensive care nurse from McKay Dee Hospital that joined with Dr .Visick to lead the training. We enjoyed the opportunity to get to know her and welcome her to Indonesia.  When they arrive they don't have much time to rest up, they start the next morning. Not an easy task when your body is in a different time zone!

Elder and Sister Williams, a missionary couple serving in the city of Surabaya. (Approx. 250 kilometers from Jakarta). He is a retired physician that served as a young missionary in Indonesia about 40 years ago. He addressed the audience and shared how much he loved Indonesia as a young man and looked forward to the day he could one day return with his wife and serve again. He said, "To come here as a young missionary and now come back and serve again with my wife, and to help with this training is a special experience for us. Thank you for letting us be here. We love Indonesia."   The audience and all in attendance were deeply touched.

                                             Dr M. Sholeh Kosim, Chairman of Perinasia.
Thanked LDSC for this program saying that it is very important and valuable to us. They have been an excellent partner to work with.

5 of the physicians in attendance were from Papua. An island 6000 kilometers east of Jakarta.

 

 

 

The certified trainers with LDSCharities at the completion of the course.

 

 

 

 The 2nd part of the training occurred on the island of Sumatra, in the city of Padang. Right next to the Indian Ocean. This is our first time here and of course we needed to capture some of the décor of the area.

 Our hotel is right near the beach and shortly after we arrived we captured this spectacular sunset. The pictures say it all.

 

 

 Some people spend thousands of dollars to capture this and we get to experience it as part of our mission. There are always special moments all along the way! The world is such a beautiful creation and we must do all we can to care for it.  The Lord blesses us over and over, how do show our gratitude?

Can you feel the peace in these pictures? The two fishing boats in the ocean remind me of the need for the quiet moments in our life . 

 

The next morning, enjoying the coconut trees and the waves of the Indian Ocean from our deck.
                    

                  Train the Trainers in Padang, West Sumatra

      Dr Waristari , one of the Perinasia leading physicians from Jakarta welcoming the doctors

                                                                The training begins

 Setiaman, one of our two translators that assisted us in the trainings. And without our translators, the training could never be successful. 

 At the close of the first day of training we went out to visit a  puskesmus (local clinic). Many babies are delivered in a facility like this. If they have difficulty they are sent to the hospital.

 The puskesmas is operated primarily by mid wives. Here they will utilize the training received from the Helping Babies Breathe program.

 

Next stop was the main hospital in the city of Padang, and the neonatal unit

 

 This little baby was 1 1/2 pounds. Delivered 5 days ago. Pictured here with the local neonatologist for the West Sumatra area.

Two proud new mothers 

 

                                                      Day two of the training.
Tony Santosa is one of our two translators. He assisted us in the training done with the Visick's last year as well. A wonderful young man with a great sense of humor and captivating personality. His help throughout the trainings has been invaluable. We will always treasure the choice moments we have spent with him. Thanks Tony!

                                           Becky sharing her expertise with the physicians

 

                                            Setiaman and Dr Visick reviewing key points.

The newly certified 'train the trainers'.

 

 

This is a project where during the training you do not see the end result. But having been out to visit the mid wives and hear their stories after they are trained, of their confidence in assisting babies born not breathing, and their expressed joy. It is wonderful beyond words.

Another great work following the Saviors admonition to 'succor the weak, lift up the hands that hang down and strengthen the feeble knees.'