Examination mannequins and medical training tools were donated on Thursday to the National Post-Graduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN) by the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM), in partnership with the Wellbeing Foundation Africa, a non-governmental organisation.
The College will use the mannequins for Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE) for Resident doctors in obstetrics and gynaecology.
The Programme is funded by Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) through the Global Health Partnership (formerly THET), under their Global Health Workforce Programme and it implemented, and managed locally by Ducit Blue Solutions.
According to LSTM, the focus of the partnership is to improve the availability of quality emergency obstetrics and newborn care at national and sub-national hospitals, by strengthening the capacity of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria to deliver Advanced Obstetrics Surgical Skills (AOSS) Competency-based curriculum to Resident Doctors in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
The handover ceremony took place at the Surgical Skills Centre of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, (LUTH), Idi-Araba, where master trainers spoke on their training experience and modern strategies for halting the high incident of mortality among pregnant women.
The panel discussion titled: “Insights and experiences from master trainers,” evoked the impact of training and learning, leading to trainers’ and trainees’ willingness to deploy their experiences to produce multiplier effects.
At the handover were NPMCN Faculty Chair of obstetrics and gynaecology at the NPMCN, Prof. Deji Oluwole, the college acting Registrar, Dr. Salami Sule, Grant Manager of Global Health Partnerships, Adenike Badiora, LSTM Course Director Dr. Helen Allot, Head of International Public Health Department at LSTM, Prof. Charles Ameh, Mr Williams Awotude representing WBFA and Prof. Omotade Ijarotimi one of the master trainers from the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, Osun State.
Ameh declared that the high risk of death during pregnancy, led to the development of cost-effective competency-based training models that can be adapted into existing curriculum of the college to ensure sustainability. He said the examination mannequins would increase the quality of training and assessment of medical trainees.
Ameh, who noted that about 50 teaching hospitals have benefitted from the project, thanked the partners – Wellbeing Foundation Africa, UK International Development and Global Health Partnerships – for their effective collaboration and cooperation for success.
Sule, who received the medical equipment on behalf of NPMCN, reiterated its dedication to competency-based medical examination, stressing the importance of partnership in the areas of funding for training and assessment.
He said quality patient care is depended on sound medical education, adding that a well trained and certified doctor is most likely to treat patients well.
Sule said partners can really offer invaluable assistance by donating modern technological tools in medicine, thereby furthering the cause and advancement of medical practice.
Badiora lamented according to World Health Organisation (WHO), Nigeria’s Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) stands at 1,047 deaths/100,000 live births, making it one of the 10 countries contributing the most to global MMR.
She recalled that under the first phase of the training, 225 doctors benefitted, comprising 95 consultants, 126 Obstetric residents and four medical officers.
Badiora disclosed that two Centres of Excellence have been established in LUTH, Idi Araba, Lagos and the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Jabi, Abuja.
She also said 48 health institutions across the six geo-political zones are currently benefiting from this project through the beneficiaries of ‘Training of Trainers (TOT) who train Resident doctors, stressing that the project has provided the opportunity for the inclusion of Advanced Obstetrics Surgical Skills (AOSS) course into the training curriculum of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN).
Badiora added “By strengthening clinical training and supporting the next generation of medical professionals, we are taking one more vital step toward reducing preventable deaths and ensuring that every woman and child has access to timely, quality emergency care.
“Together, let us continue to build resilient health systems not just for Nigeria, but for all of Africa. The journey ahead is promising, and united, we can deliver impact that saves lives and shapes a healthier, more equitable future”.