They also called for further strengthening health sector-based strategy in order to ensure the presence of skilled provider at every birth.

White Ribbon Alliance-Bangladesh organised the round-table titled 'Skilled provider at every birth' in the city on the occasion of Safe Motherhood Day 2007.

The aim of the roundtable was to harmonise and intensify efforts to achieve Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) 4 and 5, which call for the reduction of child mortality by two-thirds and maternal mortality by three-quarters by 2015. The Daily Star was the media partner of the event.

Dr Halida Hanum Akhter, director general of Family Planning Association of Bangladesh, presented the keynote paper.

She stressed the need for skilled providers at every birth, saying that complications during pregnancy and childbirth are largely unpredictable and may rapidly become life-threatening.

She also called for further strengthening of the health sector-based strategy in order to complement the community-based skilled birth attendant strategy.

Jamil Osman, additional secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said that maternal mortality has declined in the country from nearly 574 per 100,000 live births in the 1990 to 320 in 2001.

Dr Shahjahan Biswas, director general at the Directorate General of Health Services, urged the media to help build capacity in the skills of birth attendants.

Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of The Daily Star, stressed his paper's commitment to be a partner in the total process of Safe Motherhood movement.

He cited several examples to highlight that there was definitely a gender bias as to why women are still dying giving birth.

He also said that professionals and activists should utilise the media to make the language of research easy for advocacy with the policymakers.

Tahera Ahmed, assistant country representative of UNFPA, also spoke at the roundtable sponsored by Concern Worldwide, Plan International and MotherNewBorNet.

Meanwhile, Karmojibi Nari, an organisation of working women, held a view exchange meeting on Safe Motherhood Day at its office in the city.

The speakers called for raising awareness among women about safe motherhood in order to reduce the maternal mortality rate.

They said safe motherhood is one of the fundamental aspects that need to be addressed properly and adequately.

Presided over by Karmojibi Nari Executive Director Rokeya Rafik, the meeting was addressed by Sharmeen Kabir, Mahmuda Imam, Arifa Akhter Anu and DrKallol Chowdhury.

Speakers at another discussion said around 13,000 women die every year due to pregnancy and delivery related complications in the country.

They also said lack of medical check up before delivery, delivery by nurses or untrained midwifes and reluctance to go for health check up after delivery are mainly responsible for the unwanted maternal morality.

The discussion titled 'Social awareness and state initiative to ensure safe motherhood'' organised by Bangladesh Mahila Parishad was held at the Cirdap auditorium in the city to mark the International Safe Motherhood Day.

While reading out a keynote paper, Dr Laila Anjuman Banu said the health picture of women in our society is just the reflection of a discriminatory attitude and violence against them.

Since her birth, a woman faces discrimination and violence that results in unwanted pregnancy, miscarriage, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases, including death, she added.

Citing a survey, Dr Makhduma Nargis Ratna, vice president of central committee of Mahila Parishad, said 52 percent pregnant women go for antenatal check up for one time while 48 percent do not go for any health check up during the pregnancy period.

She also said only 13 percent delivery cases are performed by trained midwife in the country.

Presided over by Dr Fauzia Moslem, the discussion was also addressed by Ayesha Khanam, general secretary of Mahila Parishad, Dr Rowshan Ara, professor of gynaecology at the Holy Family Red Crescent Medical College Hospital and Dr Firoz Mia, assistant director of the Health Directorate.