Amnesty's Maternal Mortality Report Criticized By Sierra Leone Government

The government of the West African nation, Sierra Leone, has defended itself on Friday against a report saying it had one of the world's highest maternal death rates. The government added that it had succeeded in reducing the number in recent years.

The government statement followed a recent report from rights group Amnesty International saying one in eight women risks death during childbirth or pregnancy.

High Maternal Mortality Rate in Sierra Leone Cause For Concern: Amnesty
One in eight women in Sierra Leone risk death during childbirth or pregnancy and the government must act to improve maternal health care, rights group Amnesty International said Tuesday.

Amnesty called the one-in-eight figure "one of the highest maternal death rates in the world."

The government statement said "maternal and infant mortality rates would be reduced by 30 percent over the next three years."

It added that "the recent demographic health survey showed a decline from 1,300 deaths per 100,000 in 2005 to 857 deaths per 100,000 in 2008."

Maternal Mortality Remains The Same in Africa
The huge numbers of women dying while giving birth due to lack of medical facilities in Africa has not abated over the past decade, a World Health Organisation expert said on Thursday.

The statement described the report as "unreasonable and not helpful considering the strides made in reducing the high incidence of maternal deaths."

Source-AFP
TAN

UNICEF Concerned Over High Maternal Mortality
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) said Friday around half a million women die each year from complications in childbirth and 10 million more suffer life-long disabilities

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