These crucial and highly successful courses are delivered under the stewardship of The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine along with 90 plus volunteers from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists’ Fellows and members, including midwives and anaesthetists. The three day course targets all levels of healthcare workers and is focused on the 5 major causes of maternal death:
- Haemorrhage
- Sepsis
- Eclampsia and severe eclampsia (complications of raised blood pressure in pregnancy)
- Obstructed delivery
- Complications during abortions
Our doctors are leaders in their fields, and teach local healthcare workers to perform caesareans, treat infection, stop bleeding and administer life saving drugs such as Oxytocin, antibiotics, Magnesium, Sulphate and anticonvulsants.
Other skills taught include newborn care, patient care, triage and referral, resuscitation of the mother and baby, recovery of mothers suffering from shock or are unconscious, assisted delivery and other common obstetric emergencies. At a higher skilled level, specific surgical skills for difficult caesareans sections are also taught.
The training programmes are delivered through interactive teaching, lectures, scenario and demonstration workshops and DVDs. All courses are supported by a comprehensive manual and all equipment, mannequins and training materials are left in the countries for future training. Training takes place in mixed groups with health workers at all levels - nurses, midwives, clinical officers, medical assistants, doctors and anaesthetists. This approach results in improved team work, respect, communications and shared experiences.
