In the framework of cooperation between the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), the Latin American Centre for Perinatology, Women's Health and Reproductive Health (CLAP/WR) and the Government of Canada, a national training workshop for trainers in obstetric emergencies was held in Colombia as part of the "Zero Maternal Deaths from Obstetric Emergencies" project, aimed at health professionals involved in the direct care of pregnant women, especially obstetricians from hospitals prioritised by the acceleration plan and the "Hospital padrino" strategy.
The training, which took place in Bogotá on 1 and 2 March, was attended by 42 obstetricians and gynaecologists representing 17 of the country's departments, selected as representatives of the sponsor hospitals in the prioritised territories. Among the topics covered were the acceleration plan for the reduction of maternal mortality in Colombia, early warning systems, the organisation of services to deal with emergencies, human factors (non-technical skills) and obstetric code red, among others.
In coordination with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, and as a contribution to the strategic lines prioritised in the acceleration plan for the reduction of maternal mortality in the country, the workshop was conducted through simulation exercises that allow the transfer of medical and non-medical skills to improve the quality of care in various obstetric emergencies, through the training of trainers who will later be part of the teams responsible for strengthening the capacities of human resources in selected hospitals in the country.
Maternal mortality is an indicator that not only reflects the state of health of the population, but also the level of development of a country, as these deaths are considered preventable and occur more frequently in poor or more vulnerable populations. In this way, the reduction of maternal mortality is the tracer target of Development Goal 3, which for Colombia has set a target of 32 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births by 2030.
