The FIGO World Congress of Gynecology and Obstetrics 2025, held in Cape Town this October, brought together over 500 speakers and 175 sessions to address some of the most pressing challenges in maternal, obstetric, gynecological, and reproductive health. With a focus on innovation, collaboration, and impact, the event served as a powerful platform for launching new initiatives and sharing transformative solutions.

Laerdal Global Health (LGH) was proud to be part of this vibrant gathering - hosting a booth, organizing side events, and actively participating in workshops and discussions. Among the many impactful moments, three highlights stood out as milestones in the global effort to improve outcomes for women and newborns.

New Postpartum Hemorrhage Guidelines Launched – A Unified Call to #EndPPH

One of the most significant announcements at FIGO 2025 was the launch of the new Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH) guidelines, jointly developed by WHO, FIGO, and the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM). Previously, healthcare providers had to navigate up to eight different guidelines on PPH, creating confusion and inconsistency in care. The new consolidated guidelines mark a major step forward in harmonizing global efforts to prevent, diagnose, and treat PPH.

Key updates include:

• A new definition of PPH: ≥300 mL of blood loss with a warning sign, ≥500 mL of blood loss, or clinical judgment.
• A strong emphasis on objective blood loss measurement, moving away from unreliable visual estimation.
• Immediate treatment using the PPH bundle (formerly known as the MOTIVE bundle): uterine massage, uterotonics, tranexamic acid (TXA), IV fluids, and examination to identify and address causes.

The guidelines were unveiled during a moving President’s Session, culminating in a collective pledge from attendees to end PPH.

Learn more about the guidelines

October 5th was officially declared World PPH Day: a symbolic and strategic move to keep the momentum going. Our team members – alongside over 50 other participants at the conference – also took part in a ‘PPH collapse’. This involved a symbolic staged moment where, in pink t-shirts, they led collapsed on the floor demonstrating the devastating impact of PPH on so many mothers across the world, daily.

Bleeding After Birth Course Materials Launched – First Training Delivered

In a landmark moment for maternal health education, the Bleeding after birth (BAB) course materials were launched at FIGO 2025, with the first training workshop held on-site. Developed in partnership with WHO, FIGO, ICM, UNFPA, and Jhpiego, the BAB course is designed to translate the new PPH guidelines into practical, hands-on training for healthcare providers.

Laerdal Global Health collaborated on the original module and for these updated materials three team members used their expertise to support with the educational design.

At the first training session using these materials, hosted at FIGO 2025, LGH also played a key role in supporting the training, supplying materials, and facilitating sessions.

Representatives from over 20 countries, who were nominated by FIGO member associations and ICM, participated in a condensed version of the course, engaging in discussions, demonstrations, and hands-on activities. These participants are now National PPH Champions, tasked with cascading the training in their home countries.

National PPH Champions

Each champion received a full training package, including:

• A facilitator flipchart
• A set of action plans
• A provider guide
• A MamaNatalie simulator (donated to qualifying countries)

Following the initial workshop, two additional sessions were held to support implementation: one focused on integrating the new PPH guidelines into national practices, and another on scaling the BAB course locally.

The course materials are now available on the WHO website, with an e-learning module in development. Requests for translations into French and Spanish are underway, ensuring broader accessibility and impact.

Discover the new course materials

Safer Births Bundle of Care in the FIGO Spotlight

Another standout moment was the dedicated session on the Safer Births Bundle of Care (SBBC), held on October 8th. This hour-long presentation showcased the program’s success in Tanzania, where implementation at 30 sites led to a 75% reduction in maternal deaths and a 40% reduction in early newborn deaths.

Speakers included:

• Dr. Ntuli Kapologwe: The Director General of the East, Central and Southern Africa Health Community
• Dr. Ioannis Gallos: A WHO Medical Officer
• Dr. Ahmad M. Makuwani: A representative from Tanzania’s Ministry of Health
• Dr Benjamin Kamala and Professor Hege Ersdal: The two lead researchers behind the SBBC study published in the New England Journal of Medicine

The session highlighted SBBC as a model for sustainable, scalable maternal health interventions. With ongoing expansion into Nigeria and growing interest globally, the program’s future was a key topic of discussion. The full audience reflected the strong engagement and enthusiasm for replicating this success in other regions.

Learn more about Safer Births Bundle of Care

Looking Ahead

FIGO 2025 was more than a conference. It was a rallying point for global action. From unified guidelines and practical training to proven implementation models, the event underscored the power of collaboration in driving meaningful change. As LGH continues to support these efforts, we hope the momentum from Cape Town will carry forward into communities worldwide, helping to ensure safer births and healthier futures for all.