COVID-19: RGUHS collaborates with ARTIST to strengthen capabilities & preparedness of healthcare workers

20-day programme to cover all hospitals through the Karnataka State Obstetrics and Gynecology Association

The high-intensity training programme (90-minute module) is being implemented through the Karnataka State Obstetrics and Gynecology Association in the state. It covers all aspects related to government and private hospitals, starting from the screening of patients and visitors at the entrance, organizing segregation of symptomatic patients, cleaning protocols, rationale use of PPE, protocols for disinfection and reuse, standard operating procedures for labour room and operation theatre, management in wards, discharge, and follow-up summary, appointment schedule and telecommunications are covered through a video demonstration.

“All hospitals should follow Covid-19 protocol-based recommended practices and this programme is aimed at training the healthcare workers across the state. The training material developed by ARTIST is in-line with the guidelines issued by the Government of India, Government of Karnataka, Indian Council for Medical Research, and WHO. This training programme will go a long way in creating awareness among healthcare workers, improving the preparedness of the hospitals apart from boosting the employees’ confidence,” Dr. Sachidanand, Vice-Chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, said.

Online training courses are being conducted every day in batches by the ARTIST team, led by healthcare leader and well-known gynecologist Dr. Hema Divakar.

“It is a fact that COVID-19 has had an unimaginable impact on various sectors, including healthcare. There is a dire need for all of us to be well-prepared. However, not all healthcare workers are aware of COVID-19 protocol-based recommended practices in antenatal care, safe delivery, newborn care, immunization, and hospital maintenance. Therefore, we have launched this programme for effective knowledge sharing and skill transfer to Obstetricians, Gynaecologists, Nursing Staff, Paramedical Staff and Housekeeping Staff engaged in maternal and child healthcare,” Dr. Hema Divakar said.

In Karnataka, the training is being cascaded through the Karnataka State Obstetrics and Gynecology Association (KSOGA), which has 20 chapters. Daily training schedules are shared with preselected hospitals from Karnataka and other states with staff connecting via video conferencing.

So far, training has been completed for healthcare workers in Vijayapura, Belagavi, Hubli, Dharwad, Hassan, Channarayapattana, Gadag, Koppala, Kalburgi, and Mandya. Over the next 12 days, healthcare workers from Bagalkote, Udupi, Ballari, Mangaluru, Chikkamagaluru, Mysuru, Bengaluru, Chitradurga, Tumakuru, Raichur, Shivamogga, Davanagere, and Bidar districts will be covered.

“We are overwhelmed with the response that we received from our chapters and hospitals across Karnataka for this programme. We are mobilizing participation from every hospital to ensure that this programme becomes successful. We received good feedback from our participants. We expect this to have a cascading effect in the sector,”  KSOGA President Dr. Shobana Patted said.

ARTIST is conducting training for healthcare workers in other states like Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to help them to be prepared in their hospitals for safe deliveries through MANYATA trainings. ARTIST is now adding the COVID PREPAREDNESS module to help the hospitals in resetting and restarting their practices.