On July 8th and 10th, lecturers from the International University of Management delivered an impactful training session on the critical management of postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) for midwives and doctors at Windhoek Central Hospital and Katutura Intermediate Hospital. The training was conducted in the maternity board room at Windhoek Central Hospital, engaging 14 dedicated participants, and in the first-floor conference room at Katutura Intermediate Hospital, which hosted an impressive turnout of 40 healthcare professionals, including midwives from both the antenatal and postnatal clinics, along with intern doctors.
This training is not just important; it is essential. PPH stands as the leading cause of maternal mortality in low- and middle-income countries, including Namibia. The stark reality presented by the World Health Organisation that a mother dies every four minutes due to PPH underscores the urgent need for immediate action and practical training in this area. As it stands, the maternal mortality rate for Namibia is 295/100,000 live births, falling short of the Sustainable Development Goal for 2030, which is 70/100,000 live births (United Nations, 2015; World Health Organization, 2025).
This initiative was made possible by the generous contributions from the International Confederation of Midwifery and Laerdal Global Health. These organisations answered the call to mobilise resources for low- and middle-income countries in training healthcare workers to manage PPH emergencies effectively. Thanks to the collaborative efforts of the International University of Management and the Independent Midwives Association of Namibia, this significant funding was secured.
Led by Sr. Penduka, the Midwifery Coordinator for IUM, her colleagues from the Nursing and Midwifery department took the initiative to deliver this training and provide essential reading materials. This partnership marks a pivotal step towards revolutionising maternal health outcomes in Namibia, equipping healthcare workers with the knowledge and skills needed to respond swiftly and effectively to postpartum haemorrhage, ultimately saving lives and enhancing maternal care. It is also an initiative for academic institutions, such as IUM, to serve the community and assist in upskilling healthcare workers, noting that one of the contributing factors to morbidity and mortality is also unskilled healthcare workers (World Health Organization, 2025).