Through Laerdal Global Health’s Buy One, Gift One (BOGO) program, and in collaboration with the World Federation of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA), four MamaBirthie CS simulators were awarded to CapaCare in Liberia to support simulation-based training in obstetric emergencies, with the goal of improving maternal healthcare outcomes.

Improving maternal health outcomes in Liberia

Liberia continues to face one of the world’s highest maternal mortality rates. Although progress has been made, with the rate declining from 742 to 628 deaths per 100,000 live births, the need for better access to quality obstetric care remains urgent.

At the same time, the national cesarean section rate in Liberia remains low, at around 7%, and many procedures are performed by non-specialist medical doctors, particularly in rural settings. A persistent challenge is that some women who need a cesarean section do not receive one in time, while others undergo the procedure unnecessarily, placing additional strain on already limited resources.

This points to a critical gap: healthcare providers need stronger clinical decision-making skills to identify when a cesarean section is truly needed and how to respond safely during obstetric emergencies.

Simulation-based training for cesarean section and obstetric emergencies

To help address this gap, CapaCare, a non-profit organization focused on medical training and research in underserved and hard-to-reach communities, is integrating MamaBirthie CS into its obstetric training programs in Liberia in collaboration with the Working Party on International Safe Motherhood & Reproductive Health from the Netherlands. The organization’s goal is to strengthen maternal health outcomes by helping ensure that timely, high-quality obstetric care is accessible to the healthcare providers who need it most.

 
_{CapaCare trainers demonstrating correct techniques using the MammaBirthie CS simulator. (CapaCare)}

MamaBirthie CS is a birthing simulator designed to support hands-on training in cesarean section techniques, normal birth, and obstetric complications. It allows healthcare providers to practice critical skills such as surgical techniques, management of postpartum hemorrhage, and assisted delivery in realistic training scenarios.

So far, 63 doctors, nurses, and midwives in Liberia have received training in obstetric emergencies, and CapaCare’s program will continue to roll out through to 2029.

Expanding hands-on training where it is needed most

Before receiving the simulators, CapaCare’s obstetric training in Liberia relied on available mannequins that did not fully support hands-on, scenario-based learning. The introduction of MamaBirthie CS has strengthened the quality and realism of the training, giving participants more opportunities to build confidence and practical skills.

Participants emphasized the value of simulation-based training in building skills and confidence:

_{Participants during CapaCare training at John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Monrovia. (CapaCare)}

Simulation with impact: The BOGO program

Laerdal’s BOGO program helps expand access to life-saving training tools where they are needed most. For every simulator purchased in a high-resource setting, another is donated to programs such as CapaCare in Liberia, helping equip healthcare providers in low-resource environments with practical skills for safer care.

By strengthening cesarean section training, clinical decision-making, and emergency obstetric care, this initiative supports a shared goal: reducing maternal mortality and helping make childbirth safer for mothers and newborns in Liberia.