On-site Learning Labs for Maternal, Newborn & Child Health
Learning Labs extend core maternal and newborn health training curriculums beyond national trainings and into the health facilities where providers put them in practice.

LEARNING LABS HAVE TRANSFERRED
TO HAMNASA
As of October 2021, HAI fully transferred all global operations and active Timor-Leste programs to HAMNASA, an independent local Timorese NGO with a board, leadership, and staff that reflects the communities they serve.
Stay up to date on Learning Labs and follow HAMNASA’s full portfolio by clicking any HAMNASA logo on this website.
National training efforts are an important way to scale up new policies and programs. However, too often competencies gained during these short, centralized trainings fail to translate effectively back to trainees’ home health facilities. At HAI, we call this the “FUAT gap”, referring to the importance of investing in follow-up after training.
In Timor-Leste, HAI and the Timor-Leste National Institute for Health developed the Learning Lab approach, which continue to build on core training competencies over time through on-site case-studies, practice simulations, and role-playing. Midwives who have participated in Learning Labs report that prior to this training they often referred difficult cases, such as newborn resuscitation, to a higher level facility, but after Learning Lab training they have confidence to treat these cases on their own and avoid high risk travel to a referral facility.
HAI, now HAMNASA, midwife trainers have conducted learning labs for municipality midwives in antenatal and postpartum care, safe and clean delivery, and essential newborn care. To address the important issue of domestic violence in Timor-Leste, HAI integrated a domestic violence module into all Learning Lab trainings. The domestic violence module covers identification of signs of violence and counseling and referral skills for midwives and doctors.

HAI-LIGHTS
“Before when we hadn’t yet participated in Learning Labs, we referred all the [emergency] cases to Maliana [referral hospital], but since participating in this program we can now treat these cases on our own. We always had the suction and the ambubag, but we didn’t know how to use them.”
– Midwife, Bobonaro Community Health Centre
Want to dig a little deeper?
Funding
[2017-2021] Support of Integrated Maternal and Newborn Care and Liga Inan Scale-Up in Partnership with the Timor-leste Ministry of Health [project transferred to HAMNASA for continuation]
This project received funding support from the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade though the Partnership for Human Development.
[2015-2017] Support of Integrated Maternal and Newborn Care and Liga Inan Scale-Up in Partnership with the Timor-leste Ministry of Health.
This project received funding support from the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
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Stand with HAI
Our Mission
Our mission is to promote policies and support programs that strengthen government primary health care and foster social, economic, and health equity for all. Our vision is a just world that promotes health and well-being, including universal access to quality health care.
Our History
Health Alliance International began in 1987 as a US-based international solidarity organization committed to supporting the public sector provision of health care for all. Over 35 years, HAI conducted programs in 17 countries, with flagship programs in Mozambique, Côte d'Ivoire, and Timor-Leste.
Our Evolution
In line with HAI’s commitment to support and strengthen local public health leadership, as of October 2021, HAI fully transitioned global operations and active programs to locally-based, locally-led NGOs. Learn more about this shift toward local autonomy and equity in global health.
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