Family Planning TOT training and adaptation of global Family Planning guidelines workshop was held from  November 25-December 7, 2013 by UNFPA Somalia in colaboration with Reproductive Health Uganda. A total of 27 health personnel from three zones of Somalia namely Somaliland, Puntland and South Central Somalia were trained as family planning TOTs. The trainee batch comprised of doctors, midwives, reproductive health advisors, midwifery tutors, representatives from WHO, Midwifery association and the Ministry of Health. The Ministry of Health of Somaliland and the UNFPA country office sent two reproductive health specialists each as the Puntland-Sub-Office was represented by one trainee who all joined the Adaptation of Global Family planning guidelines for the last three days of the training.

The objectives of the Training were to:

• Conduct an advanced training of trainers for Family planning from the three zones of Somalia (Puntland, Somaliland and South Central)
• Facilitate the adaptation of Family Planning Guidelines/Protocols based on the 4 WHO cornerstones, notably the Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use, the Selected Practice Recommendations for Contraceptive Use, the Decision-Making Tool for Family Planning Clients and Providers and Family Planning Global Handbook for Providers;
• Review, propose and recommend workable training materials/curriculum to be used by the national experts/trainers in training courses for family planning service providers and recommend modifications;
• Finally, conduct a session with the Participants and relevant RH advisors and UNFPA on expected outcomes of the training and devise follow-up mechanisms to continue and prioritize technical assistance.

The seven day workshop was composed of both theory and practicum sessions and was conducted at Arch Apartments Hotel in Kampala.. The 3 day practical sessions in real working environment was conducted at Nsinze health Centre, Busesa Health Centre, and Bugona Health Centre. The training materials used included: the Uganda Ministry of Health Basic Family Planning Skills Curriculum (trainer and trainee materials), the Family Planning Global Handbook for Service Providers, Checklists and the WHO Eligibility Criteria Wheel for contraceptive Method use and IUD and Implant training and demonstration materials and anatomical Models.

Adult Learning Training methodologies based on Experiential Learning Cycle were applied during this training which included interactive lectures, brain storming, group work and discussions, role play, demonstration and return demonstration and practicum under observation.

The UNFPA RH Midwifery Focal Point,  in a final speech to the participants at the closing  ceremony  thanked the participants for their proactive participation during the training and urged them to go back to their respective Zones and put into practice all that they had learned from the training to sustain and expand expand contraceptive prevalence in Somalia.

Closing remark was given by the Executive Director of RHU who was represented by the medical coordinator. In her remarks, she stressed on the importance for the participants to properly implement their skills and share their knowledge  besides giving due attention to details in taking records and protecting the privacy of clients.