RI trying to cut maternal mortality rate<\/p>\n
By Rita A. Widiadana<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Wearing a tight red dress, a singer appears from
\nthe back of a glittering stage with a message for husbands to
\ntreat their pregnant wives more affectionately.<\/p>\n
In a tender voice, the singer expresses her love for her
\nhusband with a dangdut song: You are the man I adore. You care
\nfor me and our newborn baby. Babe ... I love you more and more.<\/p>\n
This is a scene from the Suami Siaga (Caring Husband)
\ntelevision advertisement featuring popular dangdut singer Iis
\nDahlia. The ad is part of the safe motherhood campaign.<\/p>\n
Iis said she was eager to take part in the campaign because
\nshe had gone through difficult periods during her pregnancies.<\/p>\n
\"Husbands' roles in supporting their wives are important,\"
\nsaid Iis, whose first two pregnancies ended in miscarriages.<\/p>\n
The advertisement is being broadcast on one state-owned and
\nfive private television and radio stations for six months. The ad
\nbegan running in February and will continue to air through July
\nthis year.<\/p>\n
In addition to TV and radio spots, the campaign also includes
\nother programs, including the television drama Kembang Untuk Nur
\n(Flower for Nur).<\/p>\n
The national campaign is jointly supported by the office of
\nthe State Minister of Women's Affairs, the United Nations
\nPopulation Fund (UNFPA) and John Hopkins University's Center for
\nCommunications Programs, in collaboration with advertising firm
\nIndo-Ad.<\/p>\n
Abdullah Cholil, an assistant to the State Minister of
\nWomen's Affairs, said the six-month campaign was intended to
\nreduce the maternal mortality rate in Indonesia, which reaches
\n450 to 650 deaths per 100,000 childbirths. This rate is the
\nhighest among the member countries of the Association of
\nSoutheast Asia Nations (ASEAN). The Suami Siaga campaign is hoped
\nto help lower the maternal mortality rate to around 225 deaths
\nper 100,000 childbirths by 2000.<\/p>\n
\"We hope it can effectively raise people's awareness about the
\nhealth and welfare of mothers and babies,\" Cholil stated.<\/p>\n
Television ads and entertainment programs have been proven
\neffective in disseminating messages to target audiences, he said.<\/p>\n
\"We use a dangdut song because many people love that kind of
\nmusic. A good song can stir people's emotions,\" he explained.<\/p>\n
The campaign is targeting husbands and rural communities to
\nencourage them to pay more attention to their wives and the women
\nin the community, especially when they are expecting babies.<\/p>\n
\"In many regions in Asia, including Indonesia, people tend to
\nview pregnancy as an ordinary occurrence,\" he said.<\/p>\n
However, pregnant women face serious health risks, including
\nanemia, undernourishment, bleeding, high blood pressure,
\nmiscarriages and even death during childbirth.<\/p>\n
Data from the Ministry of Health reveals around 51 percent of
\npregnant women suffer from acute anemia. The data also shows
\n22,000 women die each year during childbirth.<\/p>\n
In traditional and rural societies, women are regarded as
\nsecond-class citizens and often receive substandard health care.<\/p>\n
Safrie Gurrici, project officer of the Suami Siaga campaign,
\nsaid pregnancy was usually viewed as a woman's private business.<\/p>\n
Husbands, especially those living in villages, rarely get
\ninvolved in helping their pregnant wives obtain the necessary
\ncare, including adequate and nutritious food and proper prenatal
\nhealth examinations.<\/p>\n
\"Village women, low-income female workers and uneducated women
\nare very vulnerable to any form of abuse or health hazard during
\ntheir pregnancies,\" a doctor said.<\/p>\n
Many of these mothers-to-be continue to work long hours, while
\nat the same time their access to health services is limited.<\/p>\n
Cholil added the campaign was part of a larger safe motherhood
\nprogram, Gerakan Sayang Ibu (Love For Mother Movement), launched
\njointly by the Indonesian government and several local and
\ninternational agencies.<\/p>\n
The Ministry of Health, the World Health Organization (WHO)
\nand the United Nations Children Fund (Unicef) are currently
\ncarrying out safe motherhood programs in several provinces in
\nIndonesia. The programs provide health care, transportation and
\nfood supplements to expectant mothers.<\/p>\n
\"The Suami Siaga campaign takes a social and cultural approach
\nto changing community behavior. Therefore, communication is used
\nto achieve our goals,\" Cholil said.<\/p>\n
The campaign is focusing on three major causes of maternal
\ndeaths in Indonesia. These include the inability to identify and
\nanticipate maternal health risks, thus preventing pregnant women
\nfrom receiving proper medical care.<\/p>\n
Another problem the campaign is addressing is a lack of
\ntransportation and health care facilities, especially in remote
\nvillages. A lack of facilities has been blamed in a number of
\nmaternal deaths. The campaign is attempting to persuade husbands
\nand communities to provide needed facilities.<\/p>\n
Fitri Putjuk, a representative of John Hopkins University's
\nCenter for Communications Programs in Jakarta, said in rural
\ncommunities people argue pregnancy and maternal health should be
\nleft to individual conscience, religious guidance and personal
\nchoice.<\/p>\n
Nevertheless, reproduction issues are becoming increasingly
\nprominent on the public health agenda. In the case of the health
\nof mothers and babies, private behavior has public consequences.<\/p>\n
\"Husbands who do not care about the health and welfare of
\ntheir pregnant wives will likely contribute to the increasing
\nnumber of maternal deaths,\" she said.<\/p>\n
Safrie added the campaign would be tailored to fit the culture
\nand tradition of each targeted province.<\/p>\n
\"We are now approaching husbands, village chiefs, religious
\nleaders and families because they play significant roles in
\nshaping women's lives,\" Safrie stated.<\/p>\n
The campaign also include other activities, including
\ndiscussions and workshops for health providers and community
\nmembers. Brochures, leaflets and posters also are being
\ndistributed in community health centers and public places.<\/p>\n
UNFPA will also provide minigrants for villages involved in
\nthe Suami Siaga campaign.<\/p>\n
Changing people's attitude about maternal health is a slow
\nprocess and this campaign is only a starting point.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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