LSTM’s Diploma in Reproductive Health in Developing Countries(DRH) has just received professional accreditation from the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) for the next three years.
The 12 week course is designed to help doctors, midwives and other health professionals working in the area of Sexual and Reproductive Health (or planning to do so), acquire knowledge and skills which will enable them to develop the awareness of the need to reduce reproductive mortality and morbidity, increase their capabilities to plan as well as review various strategies that can be used to improve sexual and reproductive health in resource poor settings. It is run by LSTM’sCentre for Maternal and Newborn Health (CMNH) in partnership with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists ((RCOG).
Throughout the programme the aim is for the participants to gain in-depth knowledge and understanding and sufficient confidence in new skills and ideas to be able to begin to develop and apply them in their own working environment and with colleagues in a developing country situation. The course, which takes place annually between January and late March, will be run with an emphasis on discussion groups and full participation of students and with a less emphasis on didactic lecturing. During the course students get to explore a topic of their choice more in depth by conducting a critical literature review and writing a dissertation of up to 3000 words.
The course to taught by staff from the LSTM, from the Division of Perinatal and Reproductive Medicine in the School of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine of the University of Liverpool, fellows of the RCOG, lecturers from WHO as well as other external lecturers with specific expertise relevant to particular aspects of the course. There are multiple scholarship opportunities available for the course with preference being given to students from low resource countries.
Susan Reilly, LSTM’s Education Business Development Manager, said: “We are always striving for our courses to receive professional accreditation from the relevant professional bodies, so we are delighted that the Royal College of Midwives has given the course its backing. We have run the course for several years, and it has always proved popular for those working, or planning to work in resource poor settings. It offers students the opportunity to learn from experts in the field as well as their peers among the student body.”