Timely Intervention Saves a Life

In Cameroon, Australian Midwife Rachel travelled by motorbike, boat, and foot through mud to reach the remote village clinic, carrying the Mama Natalie birth simulator in a backpack. For two hours, Rachel trained nurse Alice and her colleague on newborn resuscitation using the simulator, focusing on drying, stimulating, and using a bag-valve-mask to help babies breathe. Despite the rain pouring outside, they laughed and learned together, with the nurses practising on the baby mannequin and gaining confidence. Rachel left the clinic just in time to catch the last boat before the tide inhibited her return travel.

Later that afternoon, a village woman arrived at the remote clinic in labour, her baby presenting feet-first. After birth, the baby wasn’t breathing. Nurse Alice, having just completed training, quickly applied her new resuscitation skills, saving the baby’s life. This baby, given a chance at life, may have had no hope without Alice’s timely intervention.

Just an hour after the session, Alice’s quick response and application of the skills she had just learned proved crucial. This experience reaffirmed Rachel’s belief in the power of education and hands-on training. It’s a reminder that saving lives isn’t just about imparting knowledge; it’s about equipping individuals with the skills to act confidently in critical moments, giving more children a chance to live and thrive.