PESHAWAR, Nov 17: NWFP Governor Khalilur Rehman has stressed the need for providing more training to gynaecologists, midwives and nurses to reduce the mortality rate among mothers. Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the 11th biennial international gynaecological conference held under the auspices of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Pakistan on Thursday, he said the government wanted to ensure that the entire population had access to health care facilities.

Expressing concern over high maternal mortality rate, the governor said the government was making all-out efforts to provide better health-care to reduce it.

Appointment of mid-wives, launching health awareness campaigns and involving the private sector in improving health services in the country were some of the major steps taken by the government in this regard, he said.

Delegates from the United Kingdom, Germany and Ireland are attending the conference at which Minister of State for Information and Media Development Anisazeb Tahirkheli and NWFP Health Minister Inayatullah Khan were also present.

The governor said that the maternal mortality rate — ranging between 400 and 1400 per 100,000 live births — was a great challenge for all concerned, especially the policymakers and gynaecologists.

Referring to a meeting held recently under the chairmanship of President Gen Pervez Musharraf, he said a three-pronged programme was being implemented with focus on providing clean drinking water, education and basic health-care services to all.

Earlier, Prof Dr Bilqees Afridi highlighted the aims and objectives of the conference.