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| MPs issue maternal deaths warning | MPs issue maternal deaths warning |
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| Up to one million pregnant women worldwide die each year from largely avoidable causes, MPs have warned. | Up to one million pregnant women worldwide die each year from largely avoidable causes, MPs have warned. |
| A Commons international development committee report said there was a lack of political will to improve maternal health in developing countries. | A Commons international development committee report said there was a lack of political will to improve maternal health in developing countries. |
| It warned that for every woman who dies in childbirth in the UK, up to 1,000 die in the poorest countries. | It warned that for every woman who dies in childbirth in the UK, up to 1,000 die in the poorest countries. |
| The government said it would play a "leading role" in working to improve maternal health across the world. | The government said it would play a "leading role" in working to improve maternal health across the world. |
| For each woman who dies, 30 further women will become disabled, injured or ill owing to pregnancy MP Malcolm Bruce | For each woman who dies, 30 further women will become disabled, injured or ill owing to pregnancy MP Malcolm Bruce |
| The committee said a lack of data from countries with some of the worst death tolls, a tendency to under-report maternal deaths and the use of national averages all meant it can be hard to establish the true extent of the problem, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. | The committee said a lack of data from countries with some of the worst death tolls, a tendency to under-report maternal deaths and the use of national averages all meant it can be hard to establish the true extent of the problem, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. |
| Malcolm Bruce, chairman of the committee, said: "Whilst the number of maternal deaths for 2005 is cited as 536,000, the figure could be as high as 872,000. | Malcolm Bruce, chairman of the committee, said: "Whilst the number of maternal deaths for 2005 is cited as 536,000, the figure could be as high as 872,000. |
| "We fear that the higher figure could indeed be nearer the truth. | "We fear that the higher figure could indeed be nearer the truth. |
| "It has also been estimated that for each woman who dies, 30 further women will become disabled, injured or ill owing to pregnancy, so it is reasonable to assume that millions of women suffer in some way due to childbirth." | "It has also been estimated that for each woman who dies, 30 further women will become disabled, injured or ill owing to pregnancy, so it is reasonable to assume that millions of women suffer in some way due to childbirth." |
| He called on the UK's Department for International Development (DFID) to help developing countries improve data collection and extend access to free medication, as well as midwifery and obstetric care. | He called on the UK's Department for International Development (DFID) to help developing countries improve data collection and extend access to free medication, as well as midwifery and obstetric care. |
| Better access to family planning services alone would cut maternal death and disability by at least 20%, the MPs said. | Better access to family planning services alone would cut maternal death and disability by at least 20%, the MPs said. |
| 'Stubborn' goal | 'Stubborn' goal |
| The committee's report - published to coincide with Mothers' Day in the UK - praised DFID for its work helping to improve maternal health around the world. | |
| But it said the situation remained grave and warned that it looked unlikely that the millennium development goal of cutting the number of maternal deaths by 75% by 2015 would be met. | But it said the situation remained grave and warned that it looked unlikely that the millennium development goal of cutting the number of maternal deaths by 75% by 2015 would be met. |
| The MPs said there had been little progress in reducing deaths in the last 20 years. | The MPs said there had been little progress in reducing deaths in the last 20 years. |
| International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander said: "Improving maternal health is one of the biggest challenges facing developing countries, but without reliable statistics, basic healthcare and an improvement in the status of women, it will remain one of the most stubborn millennium development goals to tackle." | International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander said: "Improving maternal health is one of the biggest challenges facing developing countries, but without reliable statistics, basic healthcare and an improvement in the status of women, it will remain one of the most stubborn millennium development goals to tackle." |
| He added that the UK, and particularly Prime Minister Gordon Brown, would continue to play a "leading role" in working to improve maternal health in developing countries, as part of a "big push" in 2008 to meet all of the goals. | He added that the UK, and particularly Prime Minister Gordon Brown, would continue to play a "leading role" in working to improve maternal health in developing countries, as part of a "big push" in 2008 to meet all of the goals. |