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Indonesia might not meet MDG target on maternal health
Indonesia might not meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) target on maternal health improvement as the country's maternal mortality rate is still high and the MDG deadline is approaching
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ndonesia might not meet the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) target on maternal health improvement as the country's maternal mortality rate is still high and the MDG deadline is approaching.
'Indonesia is now in the lowest position compared to other ASEAN country counterparts. The position is even lower than Laos and Cambodia [in terms of maternal mortality rate],' Fasli Jalal, the chief judge for the 2015 MDGs Awards for Provinces, told The Jakarta Post in Jakarta on Tuesday.
The awards are held by the National Development Planning Ministry.
Fasli was speaking during a visit from National Development Planning Minister Andrinof Achir Chaniago and a number of the award's other judges to The Jakarta Post's office.
Also accompanying Andrinof was the ministry's deputy for human resources and cultural affairs, Nina Sardjunani.
Fasli said that in the 1970s, the maternal mortality rate was around 692 per 100,000 live births, and the number had declined to 228 per 100,000 live births in 2007. However, according to recent data from the 2012 Indonesian Demographic and Health Survey (SDKI), the number increased significantly to 359 deaths per 100,000 live births.
Indonesia is targeting to meet the MDGs by having 102 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2015, which is an ambitious undertaking.
'This is the reason why we don't have the nerve to face other countries in international population forums,' Fasli said.
'For example, Singapore only has three maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, while Malaysia has 29.'
Another judge of the awards, Prof. Endang L. Achadi, said that the high maternal mortality rate was due to several factors, including a lack of access to health services and a lack of professional and experienced health workers. (nvn)
