A senior health practitioner at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, LASUTH, Professor Grace Odeyemi, who made the call at the 2nd annual Scientific Conference of the Association of General Private Nursing Practitioners of Nigeria, AGPNP.

Odeyemi deplored the high rate of maternal deaths in Nigeria, where the risk of maternal death is one in 16. "Every minute one woman dies due to causes related to pregnancy, child birth and postnatal period.

At the event which was held in partnership with Pfizer, the "Safe Motherhood" scheme initiated by the World Health Organisation, was unveiled.

In a presentation entitled: "Save a Woman, Save a Nation", Odeyemi remarked that reproductive rights of women are inalienable.

"Every woman has the right to attain the highest standard of sexual and reproductive health, and the right to services and information. They should be able to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing, and timing of their children," she noted.

Deploring the high rate of maternal and child deaths in the country, she stated: "The onus falls on us as health workers to avail pregnant women with information that would save their lives.

"By this conference, we have challenged ourselves. We shouldn't let women die needlessly. When a woman dies, children lose their primary caregiver; countries forego her contributions to economic and social development. A woman's death is more than a personal tragedy. It represents an enormous loss to her family, community and nation."

She said the "Safe Motherhood" scheme is to help reduce the high rate of maternal death by "ensuring that all women receive the care they need to be safe and healthy throughout pregnancy and childbirth."

President AGPNP, Dr T.J Olawale said nurses in private practice could provide effective service if given the right education.

Victoria Oloruntegbe, the Acting Director of Nursing Services, Health Service Commission, Lagos State, said maternal death is a priority in Lagos State. The state has provided world-standard maternal and child health centres that have brought smiles to people's faces. And as we have been saving women, we will save this nation."

Assistant Director Communication, Pfizer, Mrs.Margaret Olele, said Pfizer has a rich portfolio in women's health and malaria medicines for pregnant women and was committed to supporting initiatives that will help the country attain the MDGs' goals.