In Jordan, the URC-led USAID Health Services Quality Accelerator Activity is supporting national entities to become Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics (ALSO) training centers that are certified by the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Strengthening Obstetric Skills
On November 2022, the Activity, in partnership with the Royal Medical Services, launched a series of ALSO training courses, which will continue through March 2023. The two-day training included theoretical knowledge that was then put into practice at interactive skills workstations equipped with high-quality mannequins.
Forty-five junior- to senior-level obstetricians and gynecologists from teaching hospitals across Jordan – as well as from the Ministry of Health – will be trained to become ALSO-certified instructors. These physicians will in turn be able to train other obstetricians in Jordan.
In addition to leading these trainings, the Activity is also providing the mannequins and other required medical equipment to set up the training labs for ALSO programs based at the Ministry of Health, Royal Medical Services, and two teaching hospitals.
“The ALSO training improves the quality of life for women in labor wards,” said training participant Dr. Lara Ramadan, Obstetrician and Gynecologist at Al Bashir Hospital. “I am confident now that I’m well prepared for emergency situations. I feel like I can make quick, reasoned judgments now that I wasn’t able to make before.”
Striving to Reduce Maternal and Newborn Morbidity and Mortality
According to Jordan’s 2020 Maternal Mortality Report, approximately 50% of maternal deaths were related to obstetric complications.
Through the delivery of ALSO training equipment and the training of obstetricians, USAID supports national entities to become ALSO-certified training centers. The training centers will be used to prepare healthcare providers to effectively manage emergency complications that may occur during pregnancy, childbirth, and the post-partum period.
Ultimately, providing quality emergency obstetric care at Jordan’s hospitals will contribute to a reduced risk of maternal and newborn mortality and morbidity across Jordan.
The ALSO-certified training centers gives concrete hope to this vision, with a better equipped workforce ready to provide quality emergency obstetric care.
