NTT has highest maternal, infant mortality rate

Yemris Fointuna, The Jakarta Post, Kupang

East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) continues to have Indonesia's highest rate of maternal and infant deaths mainly due to malnutrition, making the country rank the poorest in health improvement among the 10 ASEAN members.

An average of 8.4 of every 1,000 mothers and infants die in the nation's eastern province every year, according to head of the NTT health office R.E.L. Lamanepa.

"Based on the national census, the average rate of maternal and infant deaths reaches only between 7 and 7.5 from per 1,000 people. It means the NTT mortality rate is higher that the national level," he said on Saturday.

"As a result Indonesia ranks as the country with the lowest health participation among the ASEAN nations," he added.

Lamanepa explained that at least 48 out of every 1,000 infants in East Nusa Tenggara die at birth, while the national average is 36 out of 1,000 children.

Mothers also top the national mortality rate with at least 860 out of every 100,000 dying while giving birth, he added. The national maternal rate is only between 250 and 300.

Lamanepa blamed the high maternal and infant mortality rate on malnutrition and the concentration of villagers living in remote areas in the province.

"Another reason is the economic problem. Around 85.7 percent or 535,538 families (3,368,392 people) of NTT's population of four million are still living below the poverty line," he added.

He said the deaths were also caused partly by malaria and respiratory infections. At least 165.5 of every 1,000 people in the province suffer from malaria and 1.2 percent of the population have respiratory illnesses.

In an effort to reduce the rising mortality rate, Lamanepa said his office had deployed more than 2,050 to 2,515 villagers across East Nusa Tenggara last year to help improve the health of locals.

Another serious problem confronting the lest developed province is the quick spread of HIV/AIDS that has increased by 100 percent from 2001.

"At least 12 HIV/AIDS cases have been found in 2002. Last year there were only eight cases. Two of the sufferers have died, while the others are under supervision. Most of them are sex workers living in Kupang, East Flores and Alor," Lamanepa said.

NTT Governor Piet. A. Tallo said that poverty stemming from poor economic performance and low education was the main cause of the poor health improvement in his province.