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)