July 12, 2007 -- Algerian Ministry of Health Population Director Nacera Kechad said her country "has made great progress in the field of maternal and infant health," on Wednesday (July 11th), on the occasion of World Population Day. She also judged that "5% of endangered pregnancies could be saved thanks to better care from specialists and paramedic bodies for pregnant women."
United Nations Population Fund Representative Souileh Anan pointed out the inequalities that exist between various regions of the country. He compared Annaba's 30 deaths per 100,000 live births to Adrar's 230. Nonetheless, he said, "Maternal and infant health have improved a great deal. Mortality among pregnant women fell from 500 deaths per 100,000 live births in 1962 to 230 deaths per 100,000 births in the 1980s." Anan said those figures dropped to 117.4 in 1999 and 88 in 2006.