A set of training manuals developed to equip midwives with essential life-saving skills. The manuals, which were widely field tested prior to finalization, respond to the major problem of preventable maternal deaths. Logically organized and well illustrated, the manuals communicate, in an imaginative way, the knowledge needed by midwives in order to think critically, make the right decisions, and apply the appropriate clinical skillsparticularly in life-and-death emergencies. The modules have been prepared for in-service training of midwives and nurse-midwives, and rely on a range of problem-based learning methods designed to maximize student involvement. Emphasis is placed on the application of theory to practice, making visits to the community an integral part of the learning process.