HYDERABAD, Dec 4: Eminent obstetricians and gynaecologists have urged the medical fraternity to pay attention to childbirth issues because it involved lives of expectant mothers and babies.

They were speaking at a two-day gynaecological symposium which began on Saturday under the aegis of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Pakistan (SOG), Hyderabad chapter, at a local hotel. The theme of the symposium was “Update and controversies in gynaecology and obstetrics”.

Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences vice-chancellor Prof Jan Mohammad Memon said the university was upgrading its nursing school. He added that a gynaecology unit had been set up in Jamshoro.

SOG president Prof Farrukh Zaman said maternal mortality rate in the country was 500 deaths per 100,000 births. He said that in some cases women faced serious disabilities for the rest of their lives on account of complications during deliveries.

He suggested to upgrade schools of midwives and called for providing skilled birth attendants.

He said coordination was need among gynaecologists, obstetricians and paediatricians to control the rising maternal mortality rate.

Prof Noor Jehan Samad said gynaecologists should consider family history of couples about diabetes so that women could become aware of abnormalities her baby might have to face.