RI among countries with highest maternal deaths<\/p>\n
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Despite improvements in health over the past decades, Indonesia
\nis listed as being among the countries that contribute 40 percent
\nof the world's maternal deaths.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 20th Southeast Asia
\nregion health ministerial meeting on Monday, Indonesian Minister
\nof Health Achmad Sujudi said this was a result of the economic
\ncrisis, which had remained unabated since it first hit the region
\nin 1997.<\/p>\n
\"The Southeast Asia region still accounts for nearly 40
\npercent of maternal deaths worldwide and contributes 40 percent
\nof the world's tuberculosis sufferers,\" Sujudi said.<\/p>\n
Given this situation, Sujudi said the region should institute
\nresponsive and high-quality healthcare helped by increased aid
\nfrom donor agencies.<\/p>\n
The annual meeting of the health ministers, supported by the
\nWorld Health Organization (WHO), has been held since 1981 to
\nenhance cooperation between the Southeast Asian countries so as
\nto improve health in the region.<\/p>\n
The three-day meeting was officially opened by Indonesian Vice
\nPresident Hamzah Haz at his office.<\/p>\n
WHO regional director for Southeast Asia Muchtar Rafei warned
\nof the many problems that had recently been threatening health
\nimprovement programs in the region.<\/p>\n
\"The health problems in the region include the reemergence of
\ntuberculosis and malaria, as well as the emergence of certain
\nnon-communicable diseases,\" he said in his speech.<\/p>\n
\"HIV\/AIDS is threatening to offset our hard-won health and
\nsocioeconomic gains,\" Rafei added.<\/p>\n
HIV\/AIDS has become a new concern in the region, where an
\nestimated 120,000 people live with HIV\/AIDS.<\/p>\n
Rafei further called on the countries to take concrete action
\nto fight the currently emerging health threats in the region.<\/p>\n
\"The centrality of health in sustainable development must be
\nrecognized,\" he remarked.<\/p>\n
The meeting is aimed at seeking a common strategy to eradicate
\nemerging diseases, such as HIV\/AIDS and tuberculosis.<\/p>\n
The countries participating in the meeting include Bangladesh,
\nBhutan, North Korea, India, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri
\nLanka, Thailand and newly independent East Timor, which was
\npresent as an observer.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/ri-among-countries-with-highest-maternal-deaths-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}