In June 2024, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), in partnership with the Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), launched the third batch of the Advanced Obstetrics and Surgical Skills (AOSS) training for faculty examiners of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN) in Abuja. This program, which first started in February 2024, had already successfully trained 58 obstetrics and gynecology doctors across two previous batches in Lagos. Its primary goal is to enhance the ability of NPMCN faculty examiners to train OBGYN residents.
The five-day training, held at the Centre of Excellence in the National Postgraduate Medical College in Utako, Abuja, brought together over 25 participants. The participants were guided by a team of three experienced facilitators from The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists’ Nigeria Liaison Group (RCOG NLG), five former NPMCN trainees, and an expert from LSTM UK. The training opened with introductions led by Dr. Hauwa Mohammed, LSTM Nigeria Country Director, and Dr. Helen Allott, the course director. They set the tone for the session and outlined the rules for the program. Participants also took part in a pre-test breakout session to assess their knowledge and identify areas for improvement, ensuring the program was tailored to their needs.
Between 2000 and 2020, the global maternal mortality ratio (MMR) saw a 34% reduction, from 339 to 223 deaths per 100,000 live births, according to UN inter-agency estimates. However, Nigeria, despite representing just 2.4% of the global population, accounts for 10% of maternal deaths worldwide. This alarming statistic impacts around 40 million Nigerian women of childbearing age (15 to 49 years), highlighting the critical need for targeted interventions to address maternal health in the country.
The AOSS training aims to improve maternal and child healthcare outcomes in Nigeria by addressing the country’s high maternal and neonatal mortality rates. Through a competency-based curriculum for OBGYN resident doctors, the program equips healthcare professionals with advanced skills and best pr
actices for managing obstetric and neonatal emergencies, ultimately enhancing healthcare delivery in the region.
This project is funded by the Global Health Workforce Programme (GHWP) with support from the UK Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and managed by the Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET). It benefits both the UK and partner countries, contributing to global efforts to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality.