International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

The government in Zamfara, Nigeria, has enrolled 96 midwives under the National Midwives Scheme to help fight the problem of maternal mortality in rural areas.

According to the state health commissioner Saad Danisa, six local government areas including Kaura Namoda and Bungudu will benefit from the pilot scheme.

Qualified midwives were posted to the state by the Federal Ministry of Health as part of the pilot scheme.

To allow rural women to have access to quality maternal and child health, Mr Danisa said the midwives will be posted to rural areas.

Currently the state, which has received 88 midwives so far under the scheme, is waiting for eight more.

Earlier this month, a new campaign was launched in India to create awareness about maternal mortality in the country. Play Your Part aims to reduce the number of maternal deaths in India every year, which is currently 65,000, the BBC reported.