• A Memorandum of Understanding between Baylor College of Medicine and the Sakhalin Oblast Heath Department was signed on January 28, 2005.
• Five Learning Resource Centers (LRCs) have been established.  (Please link to Sept. 13th press release).
• A Youth Risk Behavior Survey was administered to high-school students in four cities within the Sakhalin oblast.
• Teachers conducted a Healthy Inoculation training-of-trainers targeted to decrease the use of drugs, including intravenous injections, and to increase protection in sexual behavior.

Primary Healthcare
2000-2004

The Sakhalin Oblast Health Department was the primary NIS partner institution. The Health Department identified the Korsakov Central District Hospital as the main local partnership institution. The 500-bed hospital also operates five polyclinic departments, including pediatrics and obstetrics/gynecology, a first aid and emergency medical department, and eight pharmacies.

The partnership’s overall goal from 2000-June 2004 was to improve the quality of primary care services and increase the role of preventive health care services in the Korsakov Rayon. Specific objectives were to:

• Increase the number of disease management and prevention programs and activities based on evidence-based practice guidelines.
• Develop and support nursing leadership and management training by establishing a nursing continuing education program and curriculum for new nurses and re-training of practicing nurses.
• Provide training in reproductive health for primary healthcare personnel and develop and implement an educational program on prenatal care, Lamaze and birthing techniques, and breastfeeding.
• Improve the standards of infection control prevention.
• Provide training in health care management and establish a “Mayor’s Health Council” that can enhance and extend the partnerships effectiveness.

Chronic Disease Management

• Increase the number of disease management and prevention programs and activities based on evidence-based practice guidelines.
• Develop and support nursing leadership and management training by establishing a nursing continuing education program and curriculum for new nurses and re-training of practicing nurses.
• Provide training in reproductive health for primary healthcare personnel and develop and implement an educational program on prenatal care, Lamaze and birthing techniques, and breastfeeding.
• Improve the standards of infection control prevention.
• Provide training in health care management and establish a “Mayor’s Health Council” that can enhance and extend the partnerships effectiveness.

Nursing

• Partners jointly developed nurse continuing education curricula which is now standard curricula for nurse education. The Sakhalin partners conduct nursing education on a regular basis.
• Numerous Korsakov nurses received training in Houston on nursing management and continuing education.
• Nurse leadership and the organization of nurses and the care they provide remains a priority focus for the partners.

 
Infection Control

• Two Russian partners received training in Houston on epidemiological disease surveillance, hepatitis B and C vaccinations, prevention and measurement related to STDs, communicable diseases, and prison health issues.
• Russian partners conducted a screening for 480 hospital employees in Korsakov for hepatitis B and C. The hospital's infection control department was reorganized and a new position, epidemiologist's assistant, was added to monitor nosocomial infections.
• Four training sessions were conducted on nosocomial infections for 85 feldshers from Korsakov rayon.

Women's Health

• December was designated as "Women's Health Month" in Korsakov. Medical professionals conducted 16 lectures on women's health topics in schools and 21 lectures in work places. They examined 170 women during the campaign.
• Korsakov partners developed three brochures on AIDS, family planning, and dangers of smoking and distributed 400 copies to the community. A "Medical Bulletin" was developed and is published monthly.
• Partners routinely conduct classes on Lamaze, Postpartum contraception, harmful habits and pregnancy, breastfeeding.

Health Education and Promotion

• In October - December 2003, the Sakhalin partners developed 231 health promotion activities attended by approximately 3,300 people (count may be duplicative). The health promotion topics included: alcohol and drug use prevention; breast health; STI prevention; contraception.
• The partners routinely hold health fairs and special health days. A "Day of Health" was conducted in February 2004 at the secondary schools and roundtables entitled "Take care of your health" were conducted, 164 people participated in the roundtables.

Healthcare Management

• Partners from the Korsakov Central Rayon Hospital, representing the Ministry of Health, and the Chronic Disease Prevention and Control Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston received a grant from the Foundation for Russian American Economic Cooperation (FRAEC). The 2004-2005 grant was to develop and implement a breast cancer education and early detection program with affiliated programs in the cities of Korsakov, Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, and Dolinsk.
• Beginning July 2002, all hospital employees of the Korsakov Rayon Hospital have their performance evaluation quarterly as a result of training from the Houston partners.
• The Korsakov partners conduct clinical practice reviews each quarter and have included: the use of new fluoroquinoles in out-patient treatment of pneumonia; the effectiveness of using Ruzam in treating latex allergy in medical personnel; the effectiveness of acetyl cysteine acid in treating patients with chronic obstructive lung disease.
• The chief physician of Korsakov Hospital received training on hospital management, waste management and quality management. After the training, the hospital instituted a new process for registering medical waste.
• Training seminars on emergency medicine and first aid were conducted for medical personnel in Korsakov.
• First aid and medical emergency seminars have also been conducted for employees of the police department, students and teachers at the Navy Lyceum, and food industry personnel.
• A seminar titled, First Aid and Medical Emergency, that consists of ten training sessions was conducted for firefighters; 14 firefighters completed the seminar in September 2002 and the course was again offered in 2003 and 2004.