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| Action urged on pregnancy deaths | Action urged on pregnancy deaths |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Pregnant women in developing countries face the same risk of death as women in the UK did 100 years ago, according to a coalition of campaign groups. | Pregnant women in developing countries face the same risk of death as women in the UK did 100 years ago, according to a coalition of campaign groups. |
| They are using International Women's Day to call for more action to reduce deaths among women during pregnancy. | They are using International Women's Day to call for more action to reduce deaths among women during pregnancy. |
| They say improving mothers' health is "the most off-target" of the UN's eight Millennium Development Goals. | They say improving mothers' health is "the most off-target" of the UN's eight Millennium Development Goals. |
| For every 100,000 live births in developing countries, 450 women die during pregnancy or labour. | For every 100,000 live births in developing countries, 450 women die during pregnancy or labour. |
| The coalition, which includes White Ribbon Alliance, Amnesty International and Oxfam, says that in 1910, 355 women died per 100,000 live births in England and Wales. | The coalition, which includes White Ribbon Alliance, Amnesty International and Oxfam, says that in 1910, 355 women died per 100,000 live births in England and Wales. |
| In Scotland and Ireland, the rate was higher - at 572 and 531 respectively. | |
| In Ghana today the rate of pregnancy-related deaths is 560, while in Chad it is 1,500. The rate in the UK is now 14 deaths per 100,000. | In Ghana today the rate of pregnancy-related deaths is 560, while in Chad it is 1,500. The rate in the UK is now 14 deaths per 100,000. |
| There still remains a long way to go for the protection and security of pregnant women and their newborn children Brigid McConville, Director of White Ribbon Alliance | There still remains a long way to go for the protection and security of pregnant women and their newborn children Brigid McConville, Director of White Ribbon Alliance |
| The comparison has been drawn because it was 100 years ago that International Women's Day was established. | The comparison has been drawn because it was 100 years ago that International Women's Day was established. |
| The UN says although it is difficult to get accurate figures on maternal mortality, very little progress has been made in sub-Saharan Africa - and deaths in southern Asia "remain unacceptably high". | The UN says although it is difficult to get accurate figures on maternal mortality, very little progress has been made in sub-Saharan Africa - and deaths in southern Asia "remain unacceptably high". |
| Brigid McConville, the director of White Ribbon Alliance, which campaigns for safe motherhood, said: "There still remains a long way to go for the protection and security of pregnant women and their newborn children." | Brigid McConville, the director of White Ribbon Alliance, which campaigns for safe motherhood, said: "There still remains a long way to go for the protection and security of pregnant women and their newborn children." |
| Monday is the official launch of a week of events. Campaigners will march at the Millennium Bridge in London and lay white roses outside Parliament. | Monday is the official launch of a week of events. Campaigners will march at the Millennium Bridge in London and lay white roses outside Parliament. |
| Preventable deaths | Preventable deaths |
| Some countries have made progress in improving women's health - most notably Nepal and Rwanda. | Some countries have made progress in improving women's health - most notably Nepal and Rwanda. |
| In Mongolia, reduced deaths were achieved by educating women about the signs of complications in pregnancy and by helping them travel to special homes where they could wait to give birth. | In Mongolia, reduced deaths were achieved by educating women about the signs of complications in pregnancy and by helping them travel to special homes where they could wait to give birth. |
| Many of the medical problems are easily preventable if, for example, women have access to skilled health workers who can treat infections and use drugs to prevent haemorrhage. | Many of the medical problems are easily preventable if, for example, women have access to skilled health workers who can treat infections and use drugs to prevent haemorrhage. |
| The Millennium Development Goal also envisages preventing deaths that result from complications after unsafe abortions and allowing women access to contraception - to prevent riskier births in teenage mothers and to allow them to space their children. | The Millennium Development Goal also envisages preventing deaths that result from complications after unsafe abortions and allowing women access to contraception - to prevent riskier births in teenage mothers and to allow them to space their children. |
| The issue has become politically more significant in recent years, with the backing of the British Prime Minister's wife Sarah Brown, who is patron of the White Ribbon Alliance. | The issue has become politically more significant in recent years, with the backing of the British Prime Minister's wife Sarah Brown, who is patron of the White Ribbon Alliance. |
| The Women Deliver conference in Washington DC in June aims to put increased pressure on world leaders to tackle the problems. | The Women Deliver conference in Washington DC in June aims to put increased pressure on world leaders to tackle the problems. |
| Amnesty International's UK director Kate Allen said: "It's clearly been possible to cut back on the rate of maternal deaths here in the UK. | Amnesty International's UK director Kate Allen said: "It's clearly been possible to cut back on the rate of maternal deaths here in the UK. |
| "We need to demonstrate that same level of commitment worldwide." | "We need to demonstrate that same level of commitment worldwide." |