Ignorance keeps maternal death rate high<\/p>\n
Asip Agus Hasani, The Jakarta Post, Yogyakarta<\/p>\n
Ignorance within society and among policymakers has contributed
\nto Indonesia maintaining it status as the country with the
\nhighest maternal death rate in all of Southeast Asia, despite
\nmore than two decades of child and mother health programs, a
\nnewly installed professor says.<\/p>\n
Speaking in his inauguration speech before the Gadjah Mada
\nUniversity student senates, obstetrician and gynecologist
\nDjaswadi Dasuki said that the country's family planning program
\nwas a result of government intervention that either failed to
\novercome the core problem or missed the target.<\/p>\n
\"The high maternal mortality rate is not related to medical
\ncapability or poor facilities, but the attitude and morals of
\nsociety, health administrators and the government, which makes
\nhealth policies,\" Djaswadi said.<\/p>\n
The current maternal mortality rate in the country is
\nestimated at 200 to every 10,000 births, which is 10 times higher
\nthan that of Malaysia.<\/p>\n
Most of the deaths are caused by hemorrhaging, infection,
\neclampsia and pre-eclampsia.<\/p>\n
Djaswadi criticized the slow decision-making on the part of
\nthe people, who should take a mother to the hospital when she was
\nabout to give a birth.<\/p>\n
He also said that government-sponsored training for midwives
\nand the provision of facilities for emergency deliveries were not
\nsupported by policies that protected women's rights to healthy
\nreproduction. The policies include integrated, comprehensive and
\naccessible medical services for all.<\/p>\n
Djaswadi suggested that the government introduce a national
\nhealth system that would help change the public's attitude toward
\nmedical services.<\/p>\n
\"The aim of reproductive health services should be changed
\nfrom reducing to stopping maternal mortality,\" he said, adding
\nthat a law and regulations that bind policymakers, medical
\nworkers and patients themselves to protect the right to a clean
\nand safe delivery.<\/p>\n
Recognition of the right to proper reproductive health would
\nnot tolerate incompetent medical workers in the delivery room or
\ninadequate delivery facilities, Djaswadi said.<\/p>\n
\"The cost of medical services should be shared between the
\ngovernment, medical service providers and society. The
\ngovernment, therefore, should provide social insurance for the
\npoor,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ignorance-keeps-maternal-death-rate-high-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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