The Embassy of Israel in Nigeria has strengthened healthcare cooperation with Nigeria through a five-day specialised training programme on preventing and managing life-threatening maternal emergencies at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Enugu.
The Israeli medical delegation, led by Professor Offer Erez, trained doctors, obstetricians, gynaecologists, midwives and other healthcare professionals in postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), obstetric emergencies, thrombosis, haemostasis and emergency response protocols.
The initiative came amid persistent concerns over maternal mortality in Nigeria, with postpartum haemorrhage remaining a major cause of preventable maternal deaths worldwide.
Speaking at the programme, the Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Israel in Nigeria, Ms Racheli Stavissky, reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s healthcare development through medical expertise, innovation and professional capacity building.
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“Every mother deserves access to safe childbirth and quality emergency medical care. Behind every maternal mortality statistic is a woman, a family, and a community,” Stavissky stressed.
She explained that Nigeria’s high rate of preventable maternal deaths underscored the need to strengthen emergency response systems and equip healthcare professionals with advanced clinical skills.
“Israel is proud to share its medical expertise with our Nigerian partners. By equipping doctors, midwives, and medical educators with advanced clinical skills, we are investing in solutions that can save lives long after this training ends,” she noted.
The training featured evidence-based clinical instruction, high-fidelity simulations, practical skills sessions and multidisciplinary emergency exercises. Participants received specialised instruction in haemorrhage management, maternal stabilisation, blood transfusion protocols and coordinated clinical decision-making.
A key component was the Training-of-Trainers (ToT) approach, designed to enable participants to train colleagues and extend the benefits of the programme to other healthcare institutions.
Professor Erez commended the Nigerian participants for their enthusiasm and commitment to learning.
“It is a privilege to work alongside such dedicated medical professionals. The enthusiasm, clinical curiosity, and commitment to learning have been remarkable,” he observed.
He explained that the programme aimed to improve healthcare teams’ ability to recognise and manage life-threatening obstetric complications.
“Our goal is to bridge the gap between clinical knowledge and emergency response while empowering Nigerian doctors, midwives, and medical educators to transfer these skills to others. This is how we build sustainable capacity and improve maternal health outcomes,” Erez emphasised
The Governor of Enugu State, Dr Peter Mbah, welcomed the Israeli delegation, describing the initiative as a contribution to healthcare development in the state.
He highlighted the importance of continuous professional development, international expertise and modern approaches to patient care in improving healthcare delivery.
“We are pleased to welcome this distinguished delegation of Israeli medical experts to Enugu. Strengthening our healthcare system requires not only investment in infrastructure but also continuous professional development, access to global expertise, and modern approaches to patient care,” Mbah said.
The governor expressed confidence that the training would improve healthcare professionals’ capacity to respond effectively to maternal emergencies.
“We appreciate the Embassy of Israel and the medical team for this valuable initiative and look forward to expanding our partnership in medical education, healthcare innovation, and institutional capacity development,” he added.
The programme highlighted the role of international medical cooperation in strengthening local healthcare systems through knowledge transfer, practical training and institutional partnerships.
The Embassy of Israel reiterated its commitment to collaborations aimed at promoting professional development, strengthening healthcare institutions and improving community well-being in Nigeria.
