In a significant step to combat Nigeria’s maternal health crisis, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) and the Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA) today formally handed over advanced obstetric training mannequins to the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN).
The donation, including high-fidelity simulators like Kiwi Omni Cups, Resusci Baby QCPR units, and Lucy and Mum obstetric models, aims to revolutionize clinical skills assessment for future maternity specialists.
The handover followed a rigorous two-day Advanced Obstetric Surgical Skills (AOSS) training for NPMCN examiners at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH). Funded by the UK’s Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) through the Global Health Workforce Programme, this initiative directly tackles Nigeria’s alarming maternal mortality rate – estimated at 75,000 deaths in 2023, representing nearly 29% of global maternal deaths.
Dr. Salami Sule, Acting Registrar of NPMCN, hailed the partnership during the ceremony:
“These mannequins are not just equipment – they are vital tools that will enhance clinical skills training and improve competence. They will serve as silent teachers, shaping Nigeria’s next generation of highly skilled medical specialists,” he declared. Dr. Sule assured donors the equipment would be deployed optimally across national training centres to ensure equitable access.
Anchoring Excellence in National Examinations
The newly donated Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) equipment will be integrated into the NPMCN’s formal Part 1 Fellowship examinations for Obstetrics and Gynaecology. This ensures standardized, realistic assessment of resident doctors managing emergencies like postpartum hemorrhage or neonatal resuscitation.
Professor Charles Ameh of LSTM emphasized the strategic timing: “We are at a pivotal stage in our pathway to sustainable impact. This handover consolidates gains made under our programme to improve emergency obstetric care nationwide. We anticipate measurable improvements in care quality for pregnant Nigerians.”
Scaling Up Life-Saving Capacity
This phase expands the successful GHWP Local Grant 130 project, which has already trained 82 examiners and 120 resident doctors across Nigeria. With new centres in Port Harcourt (South South) and Gombe (North East), the programme will train an additional 64 doctors, decentralizing advanced surgical skills training to all six geopolitical zones.
Mr. Williams Awotunde of WBFA, representing Founder Mrs. Toyin Saraki, linked the investment to national development: “Investing in women’s and children’s health is investing in our families, communities, and national future. This is a declaration of our shared commitment to life.”
Aligning with National and Global Goals
The initiative directly supports Nigeria’s Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation and Initiatives (MAMII) programme and global targets including Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3) and Universal Health Coverage (UHC). By embedding simulation-based learning and standardised assessments into postgraduate medical education, the partnership aims to create lasting institutional change – ensuring healthcare workers nationwide can prevent preventable deaths.
The Global Health Workforce Programme is delivered through Global Health Partnerships (formerly THET), strengthening health systems for mutual UK and partner country benefit.
In a goodwill message at the occasion, Adenike O. Badiora, the Grant Manager for the UK-funded Global Health Workforce Programme (GHWP), underscored the urgency of the initiative.
She said: “Nigeria’s Maternal Mortality Ratio stands at 1,047 deaths/100,000 live births – among the world’s highest. With the SDG target of less than 70 deaths/100,000 by 2030, rapid progress is critical. The health workforce’s role in ending preventable deaths cannot be underestimated.”
The GHWP, managed locally by Ducit Blue Solutions and funded by the UK Department of Health and Social Care, launched 14 Nigerian health partnerships in 2024. The LSTM-WBFA collaboration (GHWP LG.130) has already trained 225 doctors and established Centres of Excellence at LUTH and Abuja’s Federal Medical Centre.
