AFRICA - “Invisible epidemic”, each year in the world’s poorest countries die at least half million pregnant mothers, one every minute

Rome (Fides Service) - Each year at least half million pregnant mothers in the world’s poorest countries die, one every minute. The most affected areas are Africa, the Sub-Saharan region in particular and central and southern Asia. Haemorrhage, infections, abortions, the main causes of death, find perfect humus in the lack of even basic hygiene and total absence of infrastructures such as water, ignorance and appalling conditions of poverty.
Statistics are horrifying: in Sub-Saharan Africa the life of one in every 16 pregnant mothers is at risk, whereas the percentage in developed countries is one in every 2,800. This invisible epidemic could easily be stopped, experts say. There is no need of special medicine or technology; all that is needed is simply basic formation to ensure personnel capable of intervening swiftly when necessary.
The alternative is that in the next ten years in Africa more than 2.5 million pregnant mothers will die and almost 50 will become sterile.
The UN World Health Organisation has announced its intention to fight this invisible epidemic with a series of pilot programmes in eight countries: Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia. (AP) (13/10/2004 Agenzia Fides; Righe:21; Parole:203)