School of Tropical Medicine Trains Nigerian Medical Students in Advanced Obstetrics, Surgical Skills 

Kuni Tyessi in Abuja

The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) in partnership with the Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), has concluded a three-day Advanced Obstetrics and Surgical Skills (AOSS) training for 32 residents from  National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN) affiliated training institutions at the NPMCN training centre in  Abuja.

Building on the foundation of previous successful training sessions for 82 NPMCN examiners in May and June 2024 under the programme  in Lagos and Abuja, the project emphasizes on equipping medical professionals with advanced obstetric and surgical competencies as well as maternity leadership skills, further strengthening Nigeria’s health workforce to meet critical healthcare needs.

Speaking at the training, Head of the Department of International Public Health at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Prof. Charles Ameh, shared his hopes for the project, stating that the training comes to an end in January, 2025 and at that stage, there’s  hope that upto 120 residents in the country would have been trained. 

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.

According to him, “The College’s senate is anticipating to approve the updated obstetric training curriculum in the coming weeks, a move that will embed AOSS content as a key component for obstetric training across Nigeria.

“As part of an ongoing commitment to enhance healthcare practices and outcomes in Nigeria, the AOSS training addresses critical gaps in maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality reduction strategies.

“From 2000 to 2020, Nigeria achieved a 34 percent reduction in maternal and neonatal mortality rates, yet complications from pregnancy and childbirth remain a leading cause of preventable deaths.”

This 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.As Nigeria continues to expand healthcare access, programs like the AOSS course not only improve healthcare delivery but also play an essential role in creating a healthier, more resilient population.