City opens hot-line on motherhood

City opens hot-line on motherhood

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja launched the city's
Love Motherhood drive in Tebet, South Jakarta yesterday. He also
inaugurated the 192 hot-line, which offers the public information
on the Motherhood drive and pregnancy.

The event is part of the national drive launched by President
Soeharto on Dec. 22 last year. It is aimed at reducing maternal
mortality rates.

Surjadi said the current maternal mortality rate in the city,
260 deaths per 100,000 live births, was still high despite rapid
income increases here.

With the current economic condition, maternal mortality rates
should be down by at least 50 percent by the end of 1999, he
said.

"Many pregnant women are still dependent other people making
decisions about them," Surjadi said. He said this led to them not
paying enough attention to themselves when their health was in
danger.

The hot-line was organized by the city and Cipto Mangunkusumo
General Hospital. It is expected to help pregnant women gain
information about their condition and other issues.

Public attention to health services for pregnant women should
be improved, as facilities and experts were almost inadequate, he
said. The main cause of maternal mortality was women coming too
late for medical help, and arriving too late at centers because
they could not get transport. This should not happen, Surjadi
said.

The 1996 United Nations Development Programs' report cited
Indonesia's maternal mortality rate to be 650 deaths per 100,000
live births. (ste)