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AOSS Training Expands to Port Harcourt and Gombe: Strengthening Nigeria’s Health Workforce

22 May 2025 – Port Harcourt, Nigeria

AOSS Training Simulation
Participants in Classroom Session
Presentation on Clinical Leadership

The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), in partnership with the Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), has commenced a three-day Advanced Obstetrics and Surgical Skills (AOSS) training for 32 resident doctors in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State. Participants are drawn from six South-South states of Nigeria and are affiliated with the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN).

This training represents a critical step in advancing maternal and newborn health in Nigeria by equipping frontline healthcare workers with the lifesaving surgical and clinical skills needed to manage obstetric emergencies effectively. The initiative is part of the Global Health Workforce Programme (GHWP) Local Grant 130 project, titled: “Improving the Availability and Quality of Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care at National and Sub-National Hospitals by Strengthening the Capacity of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN).”

Led by LSTM and supported by WBFA, the programme previously trained 225 Obstetrics and Gynaecology examiners and 120 residents in the AOSS course across multiple locations in Nigeria.

“We are committed to ensuring that no mother or newborn is left behind due to a lack of skilled care,” said H.E. Mrs. Toyin Ojora Saraki, Founder-President of the Wellbeing Foundation Africa. “This expansion builds a stronger, more resilient healthcare system by institutionalising high-quality training in every zone of the country.”

Following strong results and measurable impact, a costed extension was granted to broaden the programme’s geographic reach. With new training sites in Port Harcourt (South-South) and Gombe State (North-East), the initiative now covers all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria. This milestone reflects a long-term commitment to equitable access, sustainable systems improvement, and nationwide standards of excellence in emergency obstetric and newborn care.

“The training is not just about technical skills,” said Professor Charles Ameh, Head of Global Health Emergency Obstetrics and Quality of Care Unit, LSTM. “It is about embedding these competencies in the health system, ensuring every region has the capacity to respond to maternal and neonatal emergencies.”

The AOSS training directly supports Nigeria’s progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by ensuring frontline doctors have the expertise and tools to provide safe, timely, and effective care, especially in underserved and high-burden areas.

This initiative is funded through the Global Health Workforce Programme, which is supported by the UK Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and managed by the Global Health Partnerships, formerly THET, for the benefit of both UK and partner-country health sectors.