A Course for Home Care Workers and Nurses’ Aid in Lebanon
With MECC and Kerk in Actie
In Lebanon there is a great need for healthcare personnel, as many have left the country during the country’s infamous economic collapse.
In cooperation with the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC), Daikonia and Social Service Department, Lebanon’s Office, Kerk in Actie organization organized a course for home care workers and nurses’ aid. The course took place at Saint George Hospital in Beirut, which also provides the professional trainers.
One of the 18 participants, Aurore, came from a small village in the mountains and got up early every morning to attend the course. In the past, she worked in childcare and home care. Now that her children are grown up, she would like to return to work.
When interviewed, Aurore spoke enthusiastically about the program. “I have acquired practical skills, such as lifting and turning a patient. I discovered that I had always been doing some things incorrectly. The social aspects were also covered. How do you actually deal with a client? Where are your professional boundaries?”
Aurore’s preference is to work in a hospital, but she did not rule out working with the elderly or with children. “Wherever the Lord leads me,” she said.
Another participant, Maya, already worked in maternity care but had never followed any training before. “I learned a lot about what it means to become a mother. I now know that I should never say to a mother: ‘I know better than you.’ In addition, I gained knowledge about the growth and development of babies, about common illnesses, and about safety in the home.”
We also had the chance to talk to Sawsan who also already worked part-time in home care. “Every Sunday I visit clients to take care of them.” She has always helped her husband in his small business. “But I really wanted to follow a course myself. I have now taken that opportunity. I benefited enormously from the course.”
The participants have different religious backgrounds, but the atmosphere in the group was excellent. Aurore says that she made new friends. For instance, Nisrine, who came from Syria, immediately felt part of the group. Because of the war in Syria, Nisrine was unable to complete her education. Now she has been given a new opportunity.
Nisrine shared her experience: “Initially, I wanted to take this course to better raise my children and to take better care of my grandparents. But now I am thinking about working in elderly care. One specific issue that really opened my eyes is violence in caregiving. I did not know that violence occurs so frequently in care work and in so many different forms.”
Kerk in Actie has been involved in this initiative for many years now with MECC. In addition to the courses, the MECC also brings together care demand and supply. Ms. Roula Sahwi, a nurse herself, who coordinates the program on behalf of the MECC, claimed that requests for home care are being received regularly, especially from seniors. Till today, Roula assesses the care needs and selects a suitable caregiver from the pool of former graduates. “Usually this works well. Clients are very satisfied with the caregivers assigned to them.”
After finishing the 3-months 120 hours training program and passing their final test by achieving a score of at least 7 out of 10, the participants received their hard-earned certificates in basic nursing and first aid on the 3rd of December.
From the instant they receive it, they become eligible to be added to the MECC Homecare Platform which will allow them to connect with prospective clients and start working in home care, maternity care, childcare, or in a hospital (as nurses’ aid).
Participants also received a Home Care kit composed devices such as the Blood Pressure Monitor and the Blood Glucose Monitor. In this way, the graduates would have received all the help they can get to launch their careers or upgrade it, either by acquiring the required training with new equipment, or linking them up with those who need their services.
As such, by training the participants, the MECC allowed them to secure a sustainable source of living but have addressed the problem of significant shortage in Home Caregivers in the country. Hopefully, more participants will follow suit as the platform is also attracting those who are requiring Home Care services.