RI among countries with highest maternal deaths

RI among countries with highest maternal deaths

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Despite improvements in health over the past decades, Indonesia
is listed as being among the countries that contribute 40 percent
of the world's maternal deaths.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 20th Southeast Asia
region health ministerial meeting on Monday, Indonesian Minister
of Health Achmad Sujudi said this was a result of the economic
crisis, which had remained unabated since it first hit the region
in 1997.

"The Southeast Asia region still accounts for nearly 40
percent of maternal deaths worldwide and contributes 40 percent
of the world's tuberculosis sufferers," Sujudi said.

Given this situation, Sujudi said the region should institute
responsive and high-quality healthcare helped by increased aid
from donor agencies.

The annual meeting of the health ministers, supported by the
World Health Organization (WHO), has been held since 1981 to
enhance cooperation between the Southeast Asian countries so as
to improve health in the region.

The three-day meeting was officially opened by Indonesian Vice
President Hamzah Haz at his office.

WHO regional director for Southeast Asia Muchtar Rafei warned
of the many problems that had recently been threatening health
improvement programs in the region.

"The health problems in the region include the reemergence of
tuberculosis and malaria, as well as the emergence of certain
non-communicable diseases," he said in his speech.

"HIV/AIDS is threatening to offset our hard-won health and
socioeconomic gains," Rafei added.

HIV/AIDS has become a new concern in the region, where an
estimated 120,000 people live with HIV/AIDS.

Rafei further called on the countries to take concrete action
to fight the currently emerging health threats in the region.

"The centrality of health in sustainable development must be
recognized," he remarked.

The meeting is aimed at seeking a common strategy to eradicate
emerging diseases, such as HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.

The countries participating in the meeting include Bangladesh,
Bhutan, North Korea, India, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri
Lanka, Thailand and newly independent East Timor, which was
present as an observer.