Two thousand women die every year during pregnancy and childbirth in Papua New Guinea and up to 20,000 babies are still born or die soon after birth.
The statistics come in a report being prepared for the country's health minister and suggest about 6000 more midwives are needed to help PNG cope with a population growing at three per cent per year.
Dr Glen Mola is a professor of reproductive health at PNG's medical school and he told Jenny Meyer about PNG's struggle to provide women and babies with safe, accessible maternity care.
Glen Mola. Photo: Facebook / Glen Mola
