Over 1000 nurses and midwives trained using MamaBirthie CS, transforming midwifery education at a college in Rwanda
Like many educational institutions across Africa, the East African Christian College struggled to support students with adequate equipment to run effective simulation training. This meant the college relied primarily on videos to train students, rather than realistic, hands-on training.
However, earlier in 2025, the East African Christian College, located in Kigali, received 32 MamaBirthie CS simulators, as a result of applying to a joint campaign with the World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists (WFSA). The campaign was possible thanks to Laerdal’s Buy One Gift One program. For every birthing simulator that is purchased in a high-income country, another donated to a pool of simulators for use in a low-income country. This pool of simulators is strategically distributed, through partner campaigns, like this one.
The MamaBirthie CS simulators have revolutionized the midwifery education we can provide, bridging the gap between theory and hands-on practice.
Through regular practice with the birthing simulators, the team at the East African Christian College have worked to instil and integrate simulation training best practice within the institution.
Principle Papias Musafiri Malimba continues: “Simulation scenario training sessions have followed a structured approach of pre-briefing, simulation, and debriefing, supported by Helping Mothers Survive educational materials and Kolb’s experiential learning framework that is in use at our simulation lab to ensure standardized practices and learning outcomes. The flexibility of the MamaBirthie CS simulator means our students have been able to practice for a number of scenarios, including things like postpartum hemmorhage, shoulder dystocia and other birth complications.”
The impact
The principle, faculty and students at the college reported the following as key changes since the birthing simulators were adopted for us as part of regular, simulation scenario training:
- Improved student confidence translating to better service delivery
- Improved teamwork, communication and decision making
- A safe environment for making mistakes and learning
- Mastery of procedures before treating real-life patients
- Enhanced simulation facilitation skills by faculty
The East African Christian College was one of 27 successful applicants receiving simulators to catalyze impact in their projects or programs.
Learn more about the Buy One, Gift One program.