Trends in maternal mortality at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria.

Background: Recent reports suggest that the burden of maternal mortality remains heavy in Sub-Saharan Africa; and that the fifth millennium development goal might not be achieved. As the target date 2015 draws near, we carried out a review of maternal mortality in a Teaching Hospital unitto assess the current situation.

Objectives: To determine the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), the clinical causes of maternal deaths and the numerical and etiological trends in maternal mortality at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

Surgical education at the West African College of Surgeons.

The West African College of Surgeons (WACS) was formed almost 50 years ago to foster friendship and greater interaction amongst the first crop of surgeons of West African origin freshly returning from overseas training. Under the College's umbrella, seven different surgical Faculties-Anaesthesiology, Dental Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology, Radiology/Radiotherapy, and Surgery-have been nurtured into viable entities. The WACS is a leading institution for surgical training, accreditation, and collaboration with international bodies in the subregion.