WiRED Awards First-Ever Mother and Child Certificates in Kenya
BY ALLISON KOZICHAROW; EDITED BY BERNICE BORN
T
his September in Kisumu, Kenya, WiRED International graduated its inaugural class of recipients of the Faye Cohen Certificate for Mother and Child Health (M&CH).
To earn an M&CH certificate, a person must undergo careful testing on all 24 modules in WiRED’s M&C Health Series — no easy task considering the rigors and range of the coursework. Certificates are given to confirm successful completion of the training programs. The M&CH certificate is part of WiRED’s Certificate Program, begun in 2012, which offers general certificates on a wide range of health issues (see sidebar).
WiRED’s comprehensive M&CH Series training program assists families, caregivers, community health workers and others by presenting information related to the following four areas: Before Pregnancy, Pregnant Now, Labor and Delivery, and Parenting. Module topics range from family planning to the health of children up to five years.
WiRED created the M&CH certificate to encourage people to study material designed to safeguard the health of mothers and children in their communities. Appropriately, certificate earners saw themselves as resources for their communities in providing vital information to women.
First Recipients of the Faye Cohen Certificate
for Mother and Child Health
| Kamiati Mohammed, Community Health Worker |
| Joyce Makungu, Business Person |
| Emily Atieno Yala, Self-Employed |
| Nelly Atieno, Business Person |
| Risper Adhiambo, Medical Student |
| Susan A. Wasonga, Community Nutrition Assistant |
Remarks by certificate awardees included the following:
“Now I can pass along the information to others, who will be asking for my advice.”
“Information about infants is important.”
“I will be a consultant to others now.”
“I found the Birth Defects Module to be the most important.”
“Preventing HIV transmission from mother to child is most important to me.”
WiRED is committed to helping people plan families, experience healthy pregnancies, have safe deliveries and provide the best care for young children. In the future, WiRED will expand the M&CH Series by creating new modules on additional relevant topics.
The World Health Organization reports that the majority of deaths suffered around the world by mothers in pregnancy and childbirth and by children under age five are preventable. Community immunity relies on having a broad base of people who are aware of health issues, and this group of certificate earners demonstrates the success of that idea, as they advance the quiet work of prevention.
The WiRED Certificate Program
The WiRED Certificate Program encourages community members to study a given module in its Health Learning Center e-library, and, when they’re ready, to take a test on the material. To qualify, they must pass with an 85% mark or better. Certificates are not offered as accreditation; their purpose is to confirm successful completion of the training programs. The certificates recognize an accomplishment.
WiRED began its Certificate Program in 2012 when just 17 people earned a general certificate. This year 88 people received WiRED’s general certificate in a graduation ceremony that drew families and friends of the awardees. Graduates came from every walk of life in the community and included medical students, teachers and members of the community with a keen interest in advancing their understanding of human health.
WiRED’s health library offers modules on topics such as disease prevention, nutrition, basic anatomy, maternal and child health, sanitation, hygiene and water purification. Although many people are already motivated to visit the centers to learn about prevention or a specific illness, the certificate program provides an extra incentive to study about a wide variety of health issues.
Four certificate levels are provided, and each represents the successful completion of an increasing number of modules:
- Bronze — 5 modules
- Silver — 15 modules
- Gold — 25 modules
- Platinum — 40 modules
Community Health Workers Are Key to
Global Health Improvement
In the last few years the World Health Organization has focused on the potential of community health workers (CHWs) in reducing inequities in access to essential health services, particularly in underserved, vulnerable populations.
The crucial point is that CHWs need thorough training in order to deliver sustainable and effective health care. WiRED is preparing for an upcoming project that will compile and research a CHW training program for low-resource communities. It will develop, test and deliver an adaptable CHW training program that provides a core curriculum readily configured for local needs. More information on this program will be coming soon.
WiRED’s Mother and Child Health Series
WiRED’s Mother and Child Health Series provides a 24-part comprehensive training program to assist families, caregivers, community health workers and others by offering information related to the following four topics:
- Before Pregnancy
- Pregnant Now
- Labor and Delivery
- Parenting
The Mother and Child Health series will be used by schools, clinics and hospitals and nongovernmental organizations that help families prepare for a healthy pregnancy, delivery and the years of childhood up to age five. This entire program is available online and it also can be downloaded for offline use though WiRED’s HealthMAP program.
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