Infant death rate remains high

Infant death rate remains high

PADANG, West Sumatra: The provincial government hopes that
midwives can help reduce the infant mortality rate from the
current 57 to 50 per 1,000 live births over the next four years.

To achieve the target, the government has recruited 400 new
midwives how will work in villages throughout the province for
three years.

According to the official 1994 statistics, the national
mortality rate stood at 54 per 1,000 live births.

Secretary to the provincial government Zainal Bakar said the
midwives are expected to be able to slash infant mortality rate
in remote villages where basic health services are inadequate.

West Sumatra currently has 2,093 midwives. They are provided
with bicycles and 1,000 of them have already been provided with
houses. (32)