Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — Conference on maternal mortality is to be held in Addis Ababa. More than 350 participants are expected to represent 30 African countries, according to coordinators of the conference.

The conference will be from 29 June – 02 July 2009, bringing together ministers of health, clinicians, program officers, and others from 30 countries across Africa, according to a press statement of UNFPA.

The gathering will discuss the development and deployment of non-physician clinicians (NPCs) as an important measure to avert maternal death and disability.

NPCs are a set of health professionals, who are not doctors but who provide significant clinical care even in the most remote areas, the statement said.

In the context of lifesaving maternal health care, this group also includes midwives and nurse/midwives who provide emergency obstetric care.

Senior Ethiopian health officials including the Minister of Health, Dr. Tewodros Adhanom, are expected to take part in the conference.

According to reports, pregnancy related deaths, including maternal deaths, newborn deaths and stillbirths, hold 7.5 million annually.

To make matter worse, 20,000 health professionals leave their post to pursue jobs in urban areas or outside of their own countries, according to a statement released by the coordinators.

The conference is jointly organised by the Ethiopian Ministry of Health, UNICEF, UNFPA and Averting Maternal Death Disability Program (AMDD), global research, policy analysis and technical support program working with UN agencies.

(ENA)

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