the cameroon twinning project - pana.ipac-canada.org€¦ · a project of ipac eastern ontario the...

A Project of

IPAC Eastern Ontario

Presented January 19, 2016 at IPAC-PANA Chapter Meeting

by

Shirley McDonald ART CIC

The Cameroon Twinning Project

Objectives

• What is twinning and why should a chapter consider twinning?

• How can a chapter choose who to twin with?

• How does a chapter get started?

• What will it cost and how much time will it take?

• What are the first goals and priorities?

• Is twinning successful?

A project of IPAC Eastern Ontario


WHAT/WHY?• Support for ICPs in an low-resourced country• Sharing of resources/expertise

WHERE/WHO?• Cameroon, West Africa• Built on previous relationship• IFIC connections

WHEN?• First contact October 2010• Chapter & CBCHB approval November 2011



HOW?

• Formed chapter subcommittee

• Requested needs assessment from CBCHB

• Developed goals for first year

• Established the “system”

• Letter of Understanding between both parties

• Fundraising by chapter

• Established communication lines



Chapter Subcommittee

• Interested chapter members

• Meet over lunch on chapter meeting days

• Provide support, advice, assistance, suggestions

• Facilitate local fundraising initiatives

• Subcommittee reports to chapter

• Cameroon financial account established



CBCHB Needs Assessment

• ABHR containers

• Surgical supplies

• Housekeeping supplies

• Training materials

• Computers, printers, projectors

• Trolleys, trash cans, etc. etc….

Sent out to chapter members



First Year Goals

• Fundraising $$$$$$$$$

• Sponsor Cameroonian ICP as an IPAC Canada member

• Bring Cameroonian ICP to an IPAC Canada conference

• Develop electronic mentorship program

• Develop electronic discussion group

• Collect and ship medical and IPAC supplies

• Assist with establishment of point-of-care hand hygiene initiative



Establishing the System

• Chair/co-chair – coordination of initiatives

• Treasurer – keep records of funds and expenses, established a Cameroon account

• Collection points – wide geographical area

• Supplies cataloguing, warehousing and shipping

• Mentorship initiative coordinator

• Donations acknowledgement



Letter of Understanding (LOU)

• List of parties involved

• Program goals (long-term)

• Program Objectives

• Program Administration

• Term of LOU

• Signatures

Legal assistance obtained ‘pro bono’



Chapter Fundraising

• Silent auction

• Sale of African artifacts at 2011 & 2014 IPAC Canada conferences, 25th anniversary dinner and chapter education days

• “Pass the Bucket” at all chapter meetings

• Donations from chapter and from industry



Chapter Fundraising



Communication

• Designated “go-to” or lead person for communications to and from Cameroon

• Involved committee members in email discussions

• Maintained contact lists and email distribution lists

• Developed information brochure

• Created project website as part of chapter website



What Worked…

• Raised $$$$ to expand initiatives

• Jacob nkwan IPAC Canada member 2011 - present

• Shipped medical supplies annually from 2011 - 15

• Facilitated donation of plastic bottles for ABHR

• Purchased and shipped ABHR filler

• Assisted with implementation of facility-wide hand hygiene program



What Didn’t Work…

• Unable to obtain visa for Jacob to attend conference

• Could not always send supplies when requested due to shipping costs (e.g., Ebola)

• Electronic discussion boards did not work due to technical issues with equipment and internet



Benefits of Twinning to the Chapter• Better understanding of IPAC challenges in low-

resourced countries• Better appreciation of our own health care system• Opportunity to provide meaningful assistance and a

chance to give back• Encourages thinking “outside of the box”• Chapter members presented posters at IPAC Canada

conferences • Two chapter members visited Cameroon in 2012

which allowed personal growth



Avoiding the Pitfalls of Twinning• May not be able to achieve goals without adequate

funds• Expectations of the low-resourced country may be

unrealistic• Be prepared for a large time commitment • Consider aligning with other aid agencies to defray

shipping costs• Understand how requested materials are to be used,

repaired and sustained before sending• Explore technical issues with equipment and internet



Future Plans

• Additional visits to Cameroon by chapter members

• Expansion of ABHR to all health care facilities

• Provision of APIC membership and CBIC fee to Jacob

• Annual shipment of supplies (Ebola supplies 2015)

• Purchase and ship alcohol thermometers

• Encourage other chapters to “twin”

• Expand mentorship program



On the Ground…



What was in place for hand hygiene at the time?

• Soap and chlorinated water were used

• Bucket with spigot, towel, home-made soap

• First steps in preparing in-house ABHR had been taken



First Project :Alcohol-based Hand Rub (ABHR)

Soap and Water…



Preparation of Soap…



Rudimentary ABHR…



Moving forward…point-of-care ABHR

• Problem: no local suppliers

• Problem: lack of sustainability

• Solution: On-site production of ABHR following the recipe from World Health Organization

• Solution: Source obtained for plastic bottles and method for reprocessing



Education was given…

Procedures for reprocessing (ABHR bottles, filler) were developed




Future Plans…

• Produce sufficient ABHR to supply all health facilities

• Sell ABHR in the community to defray costs

• Increase mechanization of process


Questions?



the cameroon twinning project - pana.ipac-canada.org€¦ · a project of ipac eastern ontario the...

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