A RETIRED science teacher from Billericay says more must be done to stop women dying in childbirth in poverty-stricken Chad.

Colin Kidner, of Crown Road has just returned from the country, in central Africa, where he has been working to support two maternity clinics.

This was the second visit to Chad for the 65-year-old, who is treasurer of the Safer Birth in Chad Foundation.

He was first prompted to go in 2005 after watching the Panorama documentary Dead Mums Don't Cry, which highlighted the soaring death rate among women during childbirth, due to lack of basic medical facilities.

During his initial trip, Mr Kidner worked to install solar panels in the two maternity clinics he is involved with to improve the supply of electricity.

His latest visit involved meetings with officials and staff while he assessed the needs of the clinics.

He said: "The hospitals need a combination of solar power and standby generators linked automatically to the mains supply.

"They also need more accommodation. Buildings and equipment need to be repaired and staff trained in use of equipment."

He also stressed how beaurocracy in Chad is a problem and how even basic washing facilities at the clinics must be vastly improved.

"The sewage cesspits and septic tanks need emptying, the drains need rodding," he said.

The Panorama programme drew attention to mortality rates among expectant mums in Chad, where hospitals do not have a constant source of power.

The odds of a woman dying in pregnancy or childbirth is one in 11. In Britain, the odds are less than one in 5,000.

The programme, watched by millions of viewers, followed the efforts of Dr Grace Kodindo, an obstetrician in N'djamena, the capital city of Chad, as she battled to improve conditions for pregnant women.