International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics

A study carried out in India has successfully reduced the rate of cervical cancer deaths by almost one-third (31 per cent) using a simple, inexpensive vinegar swab.

Progress toward the UN's Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) - particularly those that affect the health and empowerment of girls and women - has been described as "very uneven" by a keynote speaker for the organisation at this year's Women Deliver conference.

Karnataka sees a maternal mortality rate of 178 deaths per 100,000 live births, the highest found in any southern Indian state, according to data from the National Family Health Survey and the government's Sample Registration System.

Nigerian communities attended by the 1,000 primary healthcare centres that have benefited from the country's Midwives Services Scheme (MSS) have seen maternal mortality rates drop by 60 per cent in three years, minister of state for health Dr Muhammad Pate has revealed.

India has drawn attention to the successes of the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in improving the country's maternal and newborn health, showcasing the programme at the Women Deliver conference in Kuala Lumpur this week.

Failing to invest in women's reproductive health is "a major missed opportunity for development", according to a new report from the World Bank that claims such investments represent "smart economics".

Malaysia, which hosts the Women Deliver conference in Kuala Lumpur this week, has been praised by the event's founder for its achievements in reducing maternal mortality rates over the last half-century.

Jill Sheffield said the Malaysian government had been "generous in sharing its lessons", Bernama reported.

The Cervical Cancer-Free Coalition (CCFC) has announced that it will spearhead a new global initiative to combat cervical cancer through "collaboration and information sharing", addressing the Women Deliver conference in Kuala Lumpur this week.

US non-profit organisation EngenderHealth has identified several key steps required to achieve a "fistula-free generation", marking the inaugural International Day to End Obstetric Fistula on May 23rd and calling for the continued support of world governments in eradicating the condition.

In Bangladesh, some 71 per cent of babies are born in the home and only 32 per cent of total deliveries are attended by medical personnel, according to a 2011 Demographic Health Survey.