TEHRAN, Nov. 8 (Mehr News Agency) - Iran has succeeded to achieve the millennium goal in reducing maternal mortality rate sooner than scheduled time set by the United Nations, Health Minister Marziyeh Vahid-Dastjerdi told the 8th Congress of Women and Midwifery.

The congress which started on November 5 will run until November 9.

The maternal mortality rate in Iran now stands at 22 per 100,000 births which was 250 per 100,000 childbirths in 1979, the Iran Women News Agency (IWNA) quoted the woman minister as saying.

Iran has achieved this success - which was planned for 2015 - through the efforts made by hardworking midwives and gynecologists, she boasted.

Proud of being a woman and a specialist, Dastjerdi expressed her pleasure of being among gynecologists who help the most important strata of the society.

She said midwifery has existed since the era of Adam and Eve and it has brought about many benefits to the society.

The minister said now about 90 percent of pregnant women in Iran benefit from health services and women give birth under the supervision of a specialist.

Dastjerdi also expressed hope that Iran can achieve its goal on reducing infant mortality rate through the efforts of health specialists.

Providing services for painless delivery for all pregnant women are among the objectives of the ministry, she said.

... Payvand News - 11/08/09 ... --