Health fund crunch brews moral dilemma<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Fund shortages will lead to a moral dilemma for
\nhealth administrators of choosing between earmarking assistance
\nfor malnourished babies or providing contraceptives to prevent a
\nbaby boom, a health official said on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Soewarta Kosen of the research division of the Ministry of
\nHealth said that malnutrition problems could not be handled in "a
\nfew months" but required continuous involvement.<\/p>\n
Nutritionist Syafri Guricci from the University of Indonesia
\nsaid there were now nine million to 12 million Indonesian
\nchildren suffering from various degrees of malnutrition.<\/p>\n
Choosing between funding assistance to handle the malnutrition
\nproblem or the provision of contraceptives was a "moral choice",
\nSoewarta said.<\/p>\n
Family planning officials have raised the alarm about a
\npossible baby boom following decades when Indonesia was
\nchampioned as an exemplary example of family planning success
\namong developing countries.<\/p>\n
Soewarta and Syafri were speakers at a two-day seminar titled
\n"Politics of Health", held by the School of Public Health of the
\nUniversity of Indonesia. It is aimed to increase awareness among
\npolitical parties about health concerns and will end on
\nWednesday.<\/p>\n
"The public, especially of the low-income bracket, are losing
\ntheir ability to obtain contraceptive means," Soewarta said.<\/p>\n
Speakers painted a gloomy forecast for a lost and mentally
\ndeficient generation, also suffering a host of other health-
\nrelated problems, because of fund shortages in the health sector.<\/p>\n
Syafri said the most critical time for the growth of the brain
\nwas from the third trimester of pregnancy to the age of six
\nmonths.<\/p>\n
"Malnutrition could lead to permanent damage even if the
\nnutritional condition has been improved," Syafri said.<\/p>\n
Speakers said that in several areas funding of food
\nsupplements under the safety net program did not reach the
\ntargeted elementary school students.<\/p>\n
"The students only get Rp 50 from the initial budget of Rp 450
\nper child," Syafri said.<\/p>\n
Does Sampoerno, a professor of public health administration,
\nsaid that it was difficult for the health sector to obtain
\nsufficient funds from the National Development Planning Board
\n(Bappenas).<\/p>\n
"The board considers spending on the health sector as
\nconsumptive spending, not as an investment in human resource
\ndevelopment."<\/p>\n
He warned that outbreaks of civil unrest could worsen health
\nconditions in the respective areas "in a matter of days".<\/p>\n
Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced because of
\nviolence in Aceh, West Kalimantan, Maluku and East Timor.<\/p>\n
Minister of Health Farid A. Moeloek said he ordered heads of
\nprovincial health offices to improve sanitation and conduct
\nimmunization in the effort to curb worsening health conditions in
\nrefugee centers. (05)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/health-fund-crunch-brews-moral-dilemma-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}