The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in the United Kingdom, in collaboration with the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, has launched the second round of advanced training sessions for examiners affiliated with the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria.
This joint initiative, designed to enhance the skills of medical professionals in Obstetrics and Surgical Skills, aims to make substantial advancements in elevating healthcare standards and combating the concerning maternal and neonatal mortality rates in the country.
The training commenced at the project’s Centre of Excellence, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, with a total of 24 participants, 8 facilitators, 3 team members from LSTM, and 2 members from WBFA.
During the training’s inauguration, Dr. Hauwa Mohammed, the Country Director for LSTM Nigeria, encouraged active participation from the participants, promising a valuable and enriching learning experience. She noted that the program, which was launched in February 2024, is geared towards improving maternal and child healthcare outcomes nationwide.
Expressing unwavering commitment to healthcare system strengthening and the pursuit of sustainable development goals, the partnership between LSTM and WBFA signifies their dedication to advancing healthcare systems and sustainable development objectives within Nigeria.
Dr. Helen Allott, the course director, commenced the training by facilitating introductions and establishing guidelines before diving into the course syllabus.
Previous reports from Wakadaily highlighted LSTM and WBFA’s partnership announcement aimed at enhancing obstetric training for resident doctors in Nigeria.
The collaborative initiative, supported by the Global Health Workforce Programme, seeks to boost emergency obstetric and newborn care and establish two excellence centers for advanced training in Nigeria.
Led by LSTM’s Emergency Obstetrics and Quality of Care Unit, renowned for its expertise in delivering maternal and newborn health capacity-building endeavors across sub-Saharan Africa, the project seeks to address the high maternal and neonatal mortality rates in Nigeria.
According to data from the World Health Organization, Nigeria recorded over 800 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births and a neonatal mortality rate of 33 per 1,000 live births in 2019. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammed Pate, highlighted that in 2023 alone, 57,000 mothers succumbed to pregnancy-related complications during childbirth.
Notably, postpartum hemorrhage and complications related to premature births constitute significant factors contributing to maternal mortality, while newborn mortality due to birth asphyxia and complications from premature births remains a critical concern.
