HYDERABAD, Dec 5: Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences vice-chancellor Prof Jan Mohammad Memon has asked under-training nurses and midwives to gain expertise in latest technologies with a view to reducing the mortality rate of pregnant women.

He said that due to untrained doctors, nurses and midwives, especially in rural areas, the mortality rate of expectant mothers was increasing.

He was speaking at the concluding session of a two-day symposium on “Update and controversies in gynaecology and obstetrics” under the aegis of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists Pakistan, Hyderabad chapter, on Sunday.

He said that an endoscope unit would be set up in the department which, he hoped, would help reduce the mortality rate of expectant mothers.

The president of the society, Prof Farrukh Zaman, stressed the need for launching a comprehensive programme to save the life of the expectant mother and the child.

The secretary of the association, Prof Pushpa Srichand thanked participants and underlined objectives of the symposium.

The others who spoke on the occasion included Amna Memon, Prof Noorjehan Samad, Tipu Sultan, Haleema Hashmi, Ghufrana Memon and Roshan Ara Qazi and others.