Meeting | AIG, what are you giving them?

A preparation for gynaecology and obstetrics in the tropics

12 November 2025 | Houten

On Wednesday evening 12 November 2025, the International Safe Motherhood & Reproductive Health (ISM&RH) working group organised the meeting during the Gynaecongres in Houten, the Netherlands AIG, what do you give them? The evening brought AIG trainers, gynaecologists and working group members together around a practice-based global health theme: preparing doctors of international health (AIGs) for gynaecological and obstetric care in low- and middle-income countries.

The central question was how AIGs can be properly prepared to work in contexts with limited resources, different healthcare structures and diverse cultural frameworks - and how trainers can shape this preparation, even when they themselves have no experience in the tropics. The meeting provided space for reflection on mutual learning processes: what knowledge and skills do we impart to AIGs, and what do Dutch partnerships and training institutions learn back from their experiences abroad?

The evening opened with an introduction, after which Albertine Baauw on behalf of the International Health and Tropical Medicine Training Institute (OIGT) explained the AIG training. She outlined the structure of the training and the competences central to preparing doctors to work in international contexts.

Next, Maarten van der Deijl (AIOS gynaecology, Nijmegen) shared his experiences as a tropical doctor in Tanzania. His contribution offered a concrete insight into the daily work and clinical and organisational challenges of gynaecological care in a low-resource setting.

Stephanie Thierens (AIOS gynaecology, Amsterdam) addressed situations where expectations and practice diverge. She reflected on professional and personal dilemmas and on the importance of guidance, preparation and resilience when working in international contexts.

The concluding section focused on cooperation between AIGs abroad and partnerships in the Netherlands. It was emphasised that international experience not only contributes to individual professional development, but also to broader knowledge exchange and reflection within the Dutch healthcare landscape.

The meeting was characterised by an open and collegial atmosphere, in which educators, specialists and doctors in training actively engaged with each other. Combining practical experiences with training perspectives created a valuable dialogue on how gynaecology and obstetrics can be better prepared and supported in international contexts.