BY CHIOMA OBINNA

A new report released by the United Nations shows a 45 percent reduction in the global incidence of maternal deaths in the last 25 years as Nigeria and other sub_Saharan countries are said to be the riskiest places for pregnancy and childbirth complications.

Estimates by a new UN report show that 289,000 women died in 2013 from complications in pregnancy and childbirth, compared to 523 000 in 1990 just as results of a World Health Organisation, WHO, study, revealed that more than 1 in 4 maternal deaths are caused by pre-existing medical conditions including diabetes, HIV, malaria and obesity.

Nigeria ranks high among countries with high maternal mortality rates with a ratio of 545 per 100,000 live births according to the Federal Ministry of Health.

Already, no less than 52,900 women and girls in the country die every year from pregnancy-related causes. For every woman that dies, at least 20 others suffer obstetric fistula, infections and other disabilities.

Commenting on the study report, Director, Health, Nutrition and Population, World Bank Group, Tim Evans, said “Thirty-three maternal deaths per hour is 33 too many. We need to document every one of these tragic events, determine their cause, and initiate corrective actions urgently.”