By Dennis Jay Santos
Mindanao Bureau
Last updated 05:59pm (Mla time) 08/23/2007


MANILA, Philippines -- At least 10 Filipino mothers die every day while giving birth, an official of the United Nations Population Fund (UNPF) said.

Suneeta Mukherjee, UNPF country representative, blamed "poverty" and "the lack of correct information and lack of choices for a better life" for the deaths.

Mukherjee said maternal deaths have been prevalent in poor rural areas or in urban communities with little or no health care facilities.

"These are unheard and unsung stories," Mukherjee told participants during the 2nd National Multi-Sectoral Policy Conference on Population and Human Development held at the Heritage Hotel, Pasay City on August 15.

She said there are about three million pregnancies per year, "half of which are unintended or unplanned, and that one out of three of these unplanned pregnancies end in abortion."

To read more, please click "http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/news/view_article.php?article_id=84322"

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