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akarta: As the deadline for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) nears, Health Minister Nafsiah Mboi said Monday that sustained efforts were needed to meet the 2015 targets.

Nafsiah said that additional work was needed, especially in reducing the incidence of maternal deaths occurring during childbirth and preventing new HIV infections.

She said that other than in the two areas, Indonesia had achieved impressive results.

“We have made quite good achievements particularly in maternal health and child survival,” Nafsiah said.

According to the minister, the number of childbirths assisted by skilled birth attendants increased to 87.4 percent in 2011 from 61.4 percent in 2007. The number of children with access to the measles vaccine increased to 93.3 percent in 2011 from 67 percent in 2007. The proportion of malnourished children under 5-years-old, which declined to 17.9 percent in 2010, is targeted to further decline by 15 percent, by 2015.