The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) and the Wellbeing Foundation Africa (WBFA), an NGO, have begun a five-day training programme in Abuja for faculty examiners from the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN). This was announced in a statement signed and issued in Abuja on Wednesday by Mrs Adanna Maduka, Director of Policy, Partnerships, and Grants at WBFA. She stated that this training is the third batch of its kind in Advanced Obstetrics and Surgical Skills (AOSS), which was inaugurated in February. According to her, the first and second batches of the training were held in Lagos. Maduka said that the primary goal of the training is to enhance the capacity of NPMCN faculty examiners in training resident doctors in obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN). 'The five-day training program, held at the NPMCN College in Utako, Abuja, involves over 25 participants who will be trained by a team from The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists' Nigeria Liaison Group (RCOG NLG). 'The session began with introductions led by Dr Hauwa Mohammed, Country Director for LSTM Nigeria, and Dr Helen Allott, the course director. They established ground rules and set the tone for an extensive training experience. 'Participants underwent a pre-test breakout session designed to assess their current knowledge, strengths, and areas for improvement, allowing the training to be tailored to their specific needs,' Maduka said. Maduka quoted Allott as saying that between 2000 and 2020, the global maternal mortality ratio (MMR) decreased by 34 per cent, from 339 to 223 deaths per 100,000 live births. See also NEPC trains 35 women entrepreneurs on packaging, labeling of shea products She noted that despite constituting only 2.4 percent of the global population, Nigeria accounts for 10 per cent of worldwide deaths related to pregnancy and childbirth. This disproportionately high rate, she said affects approximately 40 million Nigerian women of childbearing age, from 15 to 49 years old. Maduka further q uoted Allott, highlighting that this high figure underscores the project's aims to improve maternal and child healthcare outcomes throughout Nigeria. The project seeks to reduce these numbers through targeted interventions and comprehensive healthcare strategies. According to her, by advancing the AOSS Competency-Based Curriculum for Resident Doctors in OBGYN at NPMCN, the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and WBFA aim to ensure the provision of high-quality care for mothers and newborns in Nigeria. The AOSS course focuses on advanced techniques and best practices for managing obstetric and neonatal emergencies, thereby directly contributing to enhanced healthcare delivery. Allott explained that the project is funded by 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). She noted that the project will benefit both the UK and partner country health sectors. Source: News Agency o f Nigeria