International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

The Health Service Commission in Lagos State, Nigeria has insisted it is taking steps to save the lives of women during childbirth.

According to Victoria Oloruntegbe, acting director of nursing services at the organisation, world-class maternal and newborn health centres have been set up in the region, the Nation reports.

As a result, she is confident the maternal mortality rate in Lagos State can be brought down in the future.

"The issue of maternal death is a priority in Lagos State," Ms Oloruntegbe commented.

"And as we have been saving women, we will save this nation."

According to figures from the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund, the United Nations Population Fund and the World Bank, 40,000 maternal deaths occurred in Nigeria during 2010.

The groups said this accounts for 14 per cent of all maternal deaths around the world during this period, which indicates the problem is particularly acute in this country.

Posted by Alexandra George