The health of mothers in Africa during pregnancy and labour is not improving, according to leading gynaecologists and obstetricians.
The International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics (FIGO), has stated that of the worldwide total of deaths during pregnancy and labour, half of those take place in Africa.
Speaking at FIGO's 19th World Congress of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, held in Cape Town, the president of FIGO, Dorothy Shaw said: "The overall situation in sub-Saharan Africa with regards to maternal health has not improved.
"Of the 529,000 maternal deaths worldwide that die each year during pregnancy and child labour, half lived in sub-Saharan Africa,"
More than 2,000 gynaecologists, obstetricians and other health workers attended the conference, where FIGO launched its 2009 world report on women's health.
Copyright © Press Association 2009
<http://www.figo.org/> (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics)