MUST and its partners established the Simulation for Life program to introduce, sustain and grow medical simulation practices in SW Uganda and East Africa. This simulation symposium aims to provide a platform to share progress, challenges, and opportunities and co-create a regional simulation community of practice.

Most maternal, newborn and child deaths in Uganda and Sub-Saharan Africa are preventable. The main causes of these preventable deaths include obstetric hemorrhage, sepsis, birth asphyxia and complications of preterm births. Mortality and morbidity can be reduced by skilled birth attendants, and early recognition and treatment by competent health personnel.

A solid body of evidence now supports simulation-based learning as superior to didactic teaching and problem-based learning for the acquisition of critical assessment and management skills, particularly for clinical emergencies. Simulation-based training promotes skill acquisition and retention, enhances teamwork, and increases knowledge and understanding of key procedures.