LUANDA, Oct. 13 (Xinhua) -- Africa, the poorest continent in the world, records the highest maternal mortality in the world, with about 900 deaths per 100,000 live births, a senior official from the World Health Organization (WHO) said here on Monday.

    Luis Gomes Sambo, WHO regional director for Africa, made the remarks at the opening ceremony of the regional meeting on hemorrhage held in the Angolan capital Luanda.

    The maternal mortality is still very high during pregnancy, delivery and post-delivery period, the WHO official said, adding that no significant progresses have been made in this regard in the last 25 years.

    "Due to this, Africa might not achieve the millennium development goal of reducing the maternal mortality ratio by three quarters," he said.

    In 2004, the WHO Africa Regional Office, in collaboration with some partners, elaborated guidelines to speed up the reduction of maternal and neonatal mortality in Africa. Its objectives contemplate deliveries assisted by qualified professionals and the reinforcement of the capacity of individuals, families and of the communities so as to improve the health of the mother and new-born baby.

    According to the WHO African regional director, the human resources crisis in the health sector in African countries is a challenge that requires special attention of political leaders and all intervening parties, because a delivery assisted by qualified professionals is an essential condition to reduce maternal mortality.

    Improving health in Africa is feasible technically, but there is a need for resources to be adjusted to the extent of the problem, he said, adding that better results will be achieved with a good management of the resources available.