The Global Health Workforce Programme (GHWP), through its Health Partnership initiative, is committed to building capacity in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), currently focusing on Ghana, Kenya, and Nigeria. The programme aims to optimize, build, and strengthen the health workforce in these regions, supporting stronger, more resilient health systems for post-pandemic recovery and advancing progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in line with Sustainable Development Goal 3.
One key collaboration is with the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, aimed at improving the availability and quality of obstetric and newborn care at national and sub-national hospitals. This is done by enhancing the capacity of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN) to deliver the Advanced Surgical Skills curriculum to resident doctors in obstetrics and gynecology. Launched in February 2024, the partnership addresses critical gaps in advanced obstetric and newborn care skills, which are essential for improving maternal and neonatal outcomes in Nigeria.
Nigeria, having one of the highest maternal and neonatal mortality rates globally, faces significant health challenges, especially in rural and under-resourced areas. The 2023 UN Report on Trends in Maternal Mortality (2000-2020) revealed that nearly 28.5% of global maternal deaths occur in Nigeria. A major contributor to these alarming statistics is the lack of adequately trained healthcare professionals in advanced obstetrics. Many resident doctors in obstetrics and gynecology are often underprepared for complex cases, resulting in delays in care that lead to preventable deaths. The GHWP Health Partnership was established to tackle these gaps by enhancing the skills and competency of doctors in managing high-risk pregnancies and neonatal emergencies.
This collaboration led to the development and implementation of a competency-based curriculum titled The Advanced Obstetrics Surgical Skills Course. This comprehensive 3-day, 5-module course is followed by a 2-day Training of Trainers (ToT) session. The curriculum is designed to provide both theoretical knowledge and hands-on practical sessions, covering critical areas such as emergency caesarean sections, postpartum hemorrhage management, neonatal resuscitation, and care for preterm infants. The training was integrated into the residency program at NPMCN, ensuring its sustainability.
State-of-the-art training equipment, including mannequins for simulation-based learning and Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs), allowed doctors to practice life-saving procedures in a controlled environment. The program also provided mentorship opportunities, enabling trained doctors to guide the next cohort of medical professionals.
Despite the successes, the project faced challenges, including logistical issues with equipment and a nationwide strike that impacted the power supply, affecting some days of training.
Nevertheless, the intervention has already shown promising results. Over 82 obstetrics and gynecology doctors have completed the training, with some reporting increased confidence in handling obstetric emergencies. One trainee remarked, “What we’ve learned here will obviously play a huge role in what we do day-to-day in taking care of our patients and improving the quality of care.”
The success of this project can be attributed to the effective collaboration between GHWP, THET, Ducit Blue, LSTM, NPMCN, WBFA, and other stakeholders. The competency-based curriculum not only addresses current skill gaps but also lays the foundation for continuous professional development in obstetrics and newborn care.
A key lesson learned from this partnership is the importance of adaptability and persistence when implementing new training methods. While challenges are inevitable, the positive outcomes show the necessity of such interventions to save lives and improve healthcare delivery.
Moving forward, NPMCN plans to expand this training across Nigeria while training resident doctors within the faculty. By building on these successes, the partnership between GHWP, THET, LSTM, Ducit Blue, and WBFA hopes to create a lasting impact on maternal and neonatal care in Nigeria.