Pregnant women to get free health care

Pregnant women to get free health care

YOGYAKARTA: In a bid to help create a healthier population, the
Yogyakarta municipal government plans to waive all fees at health
centers in the municipality for pregnant women.

"The details are still being discussed," Yogyakarta Mayor
Herry Zudianto said recently, expressing hope the program would
be able to start soon.

Herry said that in deciding to adopt this policy, he was
inspired by a speech by women's activist Saparinah Sadli during
her acceptance of the 2004 Hamengkubuwono Award from Gadjah Mada
University at the end of last year.

In her speech, Herry recalled, Saparinah stated that poor
nutrition for pregnant women could result in the birth of
unhealthy babies.

He said his administration planned to make the municipality a
prominent center for education in the country, and would
therefore prioritize the education sector.

"But how can we dream of achieving high standards of education
if the seeds are unhealthy?" said Herry, adding that this had
prompted him to provide free checkups and treatment for pregnant
women at health centers in the area. --JP