The Navrongo Health Research Centre (NHRC) organised a two-day training programme on Heat and Pregnancy from 26 to 27 March 2026, followed by a refresher session for Batch 1 participants on 31 March 2026, as part of the Health Babies and Mamas study activities.
The training brought together Public Health Nurses, Midwives, Community Health Officers (CHOs), Health Information Officers, and health promotion officers to strengthen their capacity to address the effects of heat exposure on pregnant and breastfeeding women.
Building Capacity on Climate-Sensitive Health Interventions
The training focused on equipping participants with practical knowledge and skills to understand heat exposure and its implications for maternal and child health. Participants were also introduced to the Climate-Sensitive Health Counselling (CSHC) guides, designed to support counselling during individual, group, household, and community engagements.
Essentially, participants gained knowledge on heat exposure and its health effects on vulnerable populations, demonstrating the use and structure of the CSHC guides, gathering feedback to improve the usability of the guides for low-literacy audiences, and contributed to exploring strategies to integrate heat-adaptation messages into routine maternal and child health services
Interactive Learning and Practical Demonstrations
The training featured a mix of presentations, demonstrations, and hands-on practice sessions facilitated by a team of experts, including Dr. Edmond Yeboah, Daniel Azongo, and Dr. Callistus Nakpi. Participants were enlightened on the HeMAB project, including its intervention strategies and delivery approaches. A key highlight of the programme was the practical group work sessions, where participants rehearsed counselling techniques using the CSHC guides across different settings—group, individual, and home counselling.
These learning and practical sessions focused on clear and simple communication with clients, client engagement techniques, role-playing to simulate real-life counselling scenarios, and providing actionable health advice
Integration of Digital Tools
Subsequent sessions of the training focused on implementation strategies and the use of digital tools. Participants were introduced to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and implementation modalities, followed by an overview and hands-on training on the Hemab application, designed as an early warning system for heat-related risks.
The app sessions, led by Dr. Callistus Nakpi, allowed participants to gain practical experience in using modern technological tools to support timely and effective health communication.
Commitment to Improving Maternal Health Outcomes
The training reaffirms NHRC’s commitment to strengthening health systems and improving access to quality, climate-responsive healthcare services. By equipping frontline health workers with practical tools and knowledge, the Centre continues to play a critical role in addressing emerging public health challenges linked to climate change.