Bukola Afeni
In a significant stride towards strengthening Nigeria’s healthcare system, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) has partnered with the Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA) to train 32 residents from the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN) in Advanced Obstetrics and Surgical Skills (AOSS).
The Advocacy, Communications and Campaign Manager at Wellbeing Foundation Africa, Jennifer Ifunanya Eziuloh said the health body is committed to enhancing health care practices and outcomes in Nigeria.
“This training addresses critical gaps in maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality reduction strategies, preparing residents to manage medical emergencies even in resource-limited settings.”
She noted that the training focuses on equipping medical professionals with advanced obstetric surgical competencies and maternity leadership skills.
” This project builds upon previous successful training sessions for 82 NPMCN examiners in May and June 2024.
“The AOSS curriculum has been adopted to align with national standards, and we anticipate the College’s senate to approve the updated obstetric training curriculum in the coming weeks,” added Eziuloh.
According to her, the project aims to integrate the AOSS training course into the Faculty’s curriculum, making it a compulsory component of the training guide for doctors.
“This long-term sustainability measure ensures the continuity of advanced skills and best practices within Nigeria’s health community.”
The Head of the Department of International Public Health at LSTM, Professor Charles Ameh emphasized, that the goal is to train up to 120 residents by January 2025.
He noted, however, that this number is not sufficient and expressed his hope that, with additional funding, the training can be extended to the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria, thereby reducing logistical costs and enhancing healthcare sustainability.
The project is funded through the Global Health Workforce Programme (GHWP), supported by the UK Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), and managed by the Tropical Health and Education Trust (THET) for the benefit of both UK and partner-country health sectors.
