Indonesia short of medical workers: Unicef official<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A lack of medical workers is responsible for the
\nhigh maternal mortality rate in some areas, where the labor
\nprocess is commonly attended to by untrained midwives, a Unicef
\nofficial said yesterday.<\/p>\n
Unicef's representative to Indonesia, Stephen J. Woodhouse,
\nsaid that the reported maternal mortality rates in Indonesia were
\nmarkedly different from one place to another.<\/p>\n
In Yogyakarta, for example, the rate is very low. In East Nusa
\nTenggara, however, it is very high, he told The Jakarta Post
\nafter a media briefing at the Indonesia Society of Obstetrics and
\nGynecology (POGI).<\/p>\n
POGI plans to conduct its 10th National Congress on Obstetrics
\nand Gynecology in Padang, West Sumatra from June 30 to July 5.<\/p>\n
\"There must be underreporting in some areas. The local
\ncommunities in many provinces didn't report maternal mortalities
\nbecause the deliveries took place in remote areas and were
\nattended by untrained midwives,\" he said.<\/p>\n
According to official figures, Indonesia's maternal mortality
\nrate in 1993 was 425 per 100,000 births. The government plans to
\nreduce the rate to 225 per 100,000 births in 1998.<\/p>\n
In East Nusa Tenggara province, the rate was 911 per 100,000
\nbirths. In some of its districts, the rate was much higher, with
\n1,370 per 100,000 births in Weluli and 7,070 per 100,000 births
\nin Biudukfoho.<\/p>\n
\"We can't blame the untrained midwives for the high maternal
\nmortality rate. Under certain conditions, their role is very
\nimportant,\" Woodhouse said.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that in some provinces where there is a lack of
\ntransportation facilities, the role of midwives is very important
\nbecause most of the residents live in remote areas that are
\ndifficult to reach by local medical workers.<\/p>\n
He suggested that midwives be trained in medical know-how to
\nhelp in delivering babies.<\/p>\n
POGI chairman Biran Affandi suggested that the audit for
\nmaternity services, which is conducted by the maternal mortality
\ncommittee, be expanded to include determining the reason behind
\neach maternal mortality case.<\/p>\n
\"With an audit, we will find out how and why a woman died
\nduring the delivery process,\" Biran said. \"This effort will
\nprovide us with some answers and enable us to do something about
\nit, to prevent it from happening again in the future.\"<\/p>\n
He said the audit is not intended to uncover someone's
\nmistakes or blame someone for the high maternal mortality rate.
\n\"We just want to know why the rate is high,\" Biran said.<\/p>\n
The 10th National Congress on Obstetrics and Gynecology will
\nbe opened by State Minister of Population and chairman of the
\nNational Family Planing Board Haryono Suyono.<\/p>\n
The congress will address many topics, including menopause,
\nemergency contraception, cervical cancer, anemia and pregnancy,
\ninfection, nutrition and infertility.(31)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/indonesia-short-of-medical-workers-unicef-official-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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