International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

The United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA) says it is a positive development that the issue of high maternal mortality rates in the developing world is being discussed on a political stage and in the media.

Claiming that more needs to be done to prevent the hundreds of thousands of avoidable deaths which take place before, during and after labour, UNPFA suggests that raising awareness is a key part of the battle.

The organisation refers first to comments made by UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon, who expressed dismay at the World Health Organization finding that mortality rates have not improved since 1990, as an example of a high profile international figure supporting the cause.

Also mentioned is the fact that Sarah Brown, the wife of UK prime minister Gordon Brown, made a keynote speech on maternal mortality at the African First Ladies Health Summit in Los Angeles in May.

UNPFA says media outlets such as the BBC and New York Times have also contributed recently by publishing insightful feature articles on the challenges faced by local, national and global health bodies in reducing maternal death rates.

The WHO reported last month that there was still an estimated 400 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births around the world in 2007.