Equipment that has been historically vital to the education of UTMB students for years is now being utilized to train nursing and midwifery students in Ghana, thanks to a recent donation.
UTMB has donated a SimMom birthing simulator manikin from the Health Education Center (HEC) to the non-profit organization Push Aid Africa, Inc., for use at the Nursing and Midwifery Training College in Keta, Ghana. This simulator was recently replaced with a modern high-fidelity birthing simulator with HoloLens capabilities at the HEC. The SimMom is a full-body simulator that covers all stages of labor. It can prepare learners to recognize and respond to potential high-risk births and postpartum complications.
Faculty members in the UTMB School of Nursing (SON) connected with Push Aid Africa through organization's founders, who are nursing faculty members at the University of Florida. The nonprofit collects educational equipment and supplies to support nursing education in Ghana. The HEC and SON personnel who helped facilitate this donation hope that the equipment will be as beneficial to nursing students in Ghana as it has been for UTMB students.
"Donating medical equipment, such as birthing simulators, to less fortunate countries and nursing programs is not just an act of generosity—it's a commitment to global health equity," says Katie Branch, PhD, MSN, RN, CHSE, VP of Interprofessional Education and the Health Education Center.
"These tools empower healthcare providers with the training they need to save lives, ensuring that every mother and child, regardless of where they are born, has access to safe and effective care," Dr. Branch said "By contributing to educational resources, UTMB bridges the gap between potential and reality, fostering a world where quality healthcare is within reach for all."