Awka — A Medical expert, Dr. Edward. Sowho said yesterday, in Awka that Nigeria has the worst maternal health indicators in the world, urging healthcare providers to do more possible to check the development.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of a three-day training workshop for medical doctors, pharmacists and midwives on life saving skills and emergency obstetric care, Sowho said that of the estimated 500,000 women that die each year of complications from child birth and pregnancy, Nigeria contributes 55,000 which is above 10 percent.

The workshop, put together by the Anambra State Millenium Development Goal (MDG) 2008 Implementation Committee, geared toward addressing and attaining the fifth MDG, whose objective is to improve maternal health.

According to him, most of the maternal deaths in Nigeria were due to immediate causes, such as haemorrhage, ecclampsia, obstructed labour, infections, hypertension and remote causes such as unfavourable social, economic and cultural conditions.