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While poor nutrition is causing new hazards in pregnancy, childbirth too has become far riskier.

That is an estimated total of 75,000 women dying in childbirth in a year, which works out at one death every seven minutes.

It also alleged that Israel prevented aid, including medicines necessary to ensure safe pregnancy, childbirth, and neonatal care from reaching women.

Many thousands more were given transfusions using contaminated blood after accidents, emergencies or childbirth.

It added that this week it had announced a rollout of a national NHS training programme to reduce the number of brain injuries during childbirth.