Abuja — A gynecologist, Dr Emily Nzeribe, says Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) in the south-east will reduce if radiotherapy equipment are installed in the hospitals in the area.

Nzeribe, a consultant gynecologist and obstetrician at Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, told journalists in Abuja that lack of the equipment was responsible for high maternal mortality rate in the area.

She said most women that needed radiotherapy in the south east travelled to Ibadan or Lagos in the south west to get such medical attention.

"In the process of travelling to honour their appointment, some of the women die on the road before getting to their destination", she said.

"Apart from that, it is only those that can afford it that embark on such journeys as it costs a lot of money to check into a hotel, feed and transport yourself before the day booked for the medical examination," she said.