In a significant step toward improving maternal health in Namibia, the Independent Midwives Association of Namibia (IMANA) and the International University of Management (IUM) Department of Nursing and Midwifery received a donation of 18 MamaNatalie birthing simulators and Helping Mothers Survive (HMS) learning materials worth more than N$1 600 000 million dollars.
This project initiative, known as SafeBirth Namibia, is part of a global campaign launched by the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) and Laerdal Global Health to improve access to simulation-based training for preventing and managing postpartum haemorrhage (PPH).
Accepting the donation on behalf of the IUM Founder and Council Chairman, Hon. Prof. Dr. David R. Namwandi, and IUM Management, the IUM Vice Chancellor expressed profound appreciation for the significance of this extra-ordinary investment in the future of maternal and neonatal healthcare in Namibia and beyond. This project SafeBirth Namibia aims to equip midwives with life-saving skills through simulation-based training. In resource-limited settings like Namibia, hands-on training with birthing simulators is a game-changer, enabling midwives to confidently prevent, identify and manage PPH. By investing in midwifery education and strengthening emergency obstetric care, the project takes a crucial step toward reducing maternal mortality and ensuring safer births across the country.
IMANA President, Ms. Sylvia P. Hamata said that Simulation-based learning offers an innovative and ethical approach to training, upholding both educational standards and the rights of patients. IMANA firmly believes that quality education and respectful care are not mutually exclusive. It is our hope that institutions across the country will embrace simulation technology—not as a replacement for clinical exposure, but as a complementary tool that upholds the dignity of women and enhances student learning outcomes.
Background and Purpose
Project SafeBirth Namibia: Tackling Maternal Mortality Through Simulation-Based Training
Namibia faces a pressing maternal health crisis, with postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) remaining the leading cause of maternal deaths, accounting for over 20% of maternal fatalities annually. In 2020, the country’s maternal mortality ratio (MMR) stood at 215 deaths per 100,000 live births (WHO, 2023)—a rate three times higher than the average for upper-middle-income countries (USAID, 2021). Sub-Saharan Africa bears the brunt of the global maternal mortality burden, contributing to 70% of all maternal deaths, with obstetric haemorrhage ranking among the top five causes (WHO, 2024). Confidential death reviews reveal that most of these tragedies are preventable with the presence of skilled healthcare professionals.
Despite being preventable, many midwives and healthcare professionals lack the resources and training needed to manage such birth complications effectively, especially in rural and under-resourced areas. By providing simulation-based training with MamaNatalie birthing simulators and HMS BABC learning materials, the project aims to enhance midwives’ skills, build confidence, and equip them with life-saving competencies to reduce maternal deaths and improve overall maternity care across Namibia.
Additionally, the project seeks to address the issue of overcrowded training facilities. The high number of students and limited practical training spaces often result in women’s excessive exposure to student practitioners, compromising their right to dignity and privacy. By incorporating simulation-based training through the MamaNatalie birthing simulators, Project SafeBirth Namibia will reduce the reliance on live patient interactions, protecting patient dignity while ensuring essential hands-on experience for midwifery students.
This project also aligns with Namibia’s National Human Resources for Health (HRH) Strategic Plan 2020–2030. The plan’s main strategic goal is to produce a quality and adequate, functionally fit-for-purpose health workforce that is equitably distributed and efficiently utilised to address the health needs of the population toward achieving universal health coverage. Strengthening midwifery training programs contributes directly to this goal, particularly by producing quality health workforce training, improving skills, and ensuring a fit-for-purpose cadre for better service delivery across Namibia.
Collaboration and Partnerships
Project Goals and Impact
1. Reduce Maternal Mortality: Enhance midwives’ skills in PPH management, contributing to decreased maternal deaths.
2. Protect Patient Dignity: Reduce reliance on live patients by offering simulation-based training.
3. Strengthen Training Programs: Incorporate simulators into the IUM midwifery curriculum and use them in workshops for midwives across Namibia.
4. Broaden Access to Training: Ensure quality training reaches underserved areas through IMANA’s outreach programs.
Implementation Plan
The project will be implemented for a period of one year, commencing April 2025 to March 2026. The donated simulators will be integrated into the IUM curriculum and used by IMANA for workshops to improve PPH management skills among practising midwives across Namibia.
Scaling and Sustainability
Future plans include expanding training to other midwifery institutions and collaborating with government health agencies to embed simulation-based training into national health policies.
Conclusion
This partnership between IMANA and IUM represents a significant step toward improving maternal healthcare in Namibia. By enhancing midwives’ skills through high-quality simulation-based training, Project SafeBirth Namibia aims to save lives and provide safer, more dignified childbirth experiences across the country.
IMANA and IUM express their deepest appreciation to the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) and Laerdal Global Health for their generous donation of MamaNatalie simulators and HMS learning materials. Their commitment to improving maternal healthcare and saving lives through simulation-based training has the potential to make a tremendous difference in Namibia.
By: Ms. Annaloice Penduka
Midwifery Lecturer
IUM
26 March 2025