Obstetrician & Gynecologist (OB/GYN)
You protect women's lives at their most vulnerable – and in Africa, the need has never been greater.
What this life looks like
You specialise in the health of women – from puberty through pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause. As an Obstetrician and Gynecologist you manage pregnancy and deliver babies, treat conditions of the reproductive system including fibroids, endometriosis, and cervical cancer, provide contraception and family planning services, and support women through some of the most significant moments of their lives. This is a career that combines surgery with medicine, science with intimacy, and technical skill with deep human connection. And in Africa it carries a weight unlike almost any other specialty. Africa has the highest maternal mortality rate in the world. Hundreds of thousands of women die every year from complications of pregnancy and childbirth that are entirely preventable with skilled care. An OB/GYN trained and working in Africa is not just building a career – she is part of the solution to one of the most heartbreaking injustices on the continent.
What she actually does
An OB/GYN manages antenatal care during pregnancy, performs deliveries including caesarean sections, treats complications of pregnancy such as haemorrhage and eclampsia, diagnoses and treats gynaecological conditions including infections, fibroids, endometriosis, and cancers, performs gynaecological surgery, provides contraception and fertility services, and screens for cervical and breast cancer. In Africa OB/GYNs also play a key role in managing obstetric fistula and reducing complications of female genital mutilation.
Where you can work
| Sector | Places in Africa |
|---|---|
| Maternity hospitals and obstetric units in government and private hospitals across Africa | Lagos Island General Hospital Maternity Unit (Nigeria), Groote Schuur Hospital Obstetrics Unit (South Africa), Pumwani Maternity Hospital (Kenya), Korle Bu Maternity Block (Ghana) |
| Specialist women's health clinics | Marie Stopes clinics across Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Africa; Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria clinics; Aga Khan Hospital Women's Health Centre (Kenya) |
| NGO programmes focused on maternal health such as the Fistula Foundation and UNFPA-supported projects | Fistula Foundation-supported hospitals in Nigeria, Ethiopia, and Tanzania; UNFPA maternal health programmes in Niger, Mali, and DRC; Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia hospitals |
| Community health programmes delivering antenatal care | Nigeria's Midwives Service Scheme community posts, Kenya's Linda Mama free maternity programme facilities, Ethiopia's Health Extension Programme antenatal posts |
| International organisations | WHO and UNICEF |
| Your own private obstetrics and gynaecology practice. | Private OB/GYN clinics in Lagos, Nairobi, Accra, and Johannesburg, often run by fellowship-trained specialists serving urban middle-class populations |
Why it matters in Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for roughly 70 percent of global maternal deaths. Most of these deaths are preventable with skilled obstetric care. Cervical cancer kills more women in Africa than in any other region – and the majority of deaths happen because the condition is not caught and treated early. Obstetric fistula, a devastating childbirth injury that leaves women incontinent and often socially excluded, affects hundreds of thousands of African women and is almost entirely treatable with surgery. The OB/GYN is at the frontline of addressing all of these crises.
Your pathway in
Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematics at secondary school are the foundation. You complete an MBBS or MBChB degree at university over five to six years, followed by housemanship. To specialise you enter a residency in Obstetrics and Gynaecology leading to the Fellowship of the West African College of Surgeons or equivalent qualification in your region. Residency takes four to five years. Subspecialisation in maternal-foetal medicine, urogynaecology, or reproductive endocrinology requires additional training.
Skills you will need
Technical: Obstetric management, surgical skill for caesarean sections and gynaecological procedures, ultrasound scanning, management of obstetric emergencies, colposcopy, and reproductive medicine. Human: Sensitivity and discretion when dealing with intimate health issues, calm under emergency pressure, clear communication with women from all backgrounds including those who are frightened or in pain, and cultural awareness given the deeply personal nature of reproductive health. Digital tools: Obstetric ultrasound systems, electronic maternity records, telemedicine for rural antenatal care, and surgical planning tools.
A woman in this field
Dr. Hawa Abdi
Somalia
Somali physician, obstetrician, and humanitarian who built and ran a hospital and refugee camp on her family farm outside Mogadishu, providing medical care and shelter to over 90,000 displaced people during the Somali civil war. She faced down armed militias who tried to close her facility and continued operating her hospital for decades under extraordinarily difficult conditions. She received the United Nations Human Development Lifetime Achievement Award and was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Take your first step
Start by understanding the scale of maternal mortality in Africa – read the WHO or UNFPA reports on maternal health. Biology, Chemistry, and Mathematics must be prioritised at school. If you have any opportunity to spend time in a maternity clinic or hospital, take it. Talk to women in your community about their experiences with pregnancy and healthcare – this will give you real context for the career you are working towards.
Careers close to this one
- Midwife
- General Practitioner
- Neonatologist
- Public Health Specialist
- Nurse Practitioner
- Gender and Inclusion Specialist
- Community Health Worker
- Health Policy Analyst