High Maternal Mortality Rate, Moeldoko Encourages In-depth Research

Moeldoko/Antara

JAKARTA - Presidential Chief of Staff Moeldoko has encouraged various parties to conduct more in-depth research regarding the causes of the increase in the maternal mortality rate (MMR) which has not continued to decline.

"Look at the number of incidents, what causes it, and where the number of MMR has increased," said Moeldoko when receiving an audience with representatives of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) at the Bina Graha Building, Jakarta, reported by Antara, Friday, June 11.

Moeldoko explained that the issue of increasing the AKI had reached the President during the cabinet meeting. The President has ordered related ministries/institutions to be more serious in reducing the number of MMR in accordance with the 2020-2024 National Medium Term Development Plan (RJPMN) of 183 per 100,000 live births.

Moeldoko conveyed that the issue of AKI had also caught the attention of the First Lady, who had invited the wife of the Vice President, the wives of ministers, and the wives of institutional leaders to carry out a movement to suppress AKI.

"This includes the Presidential Staff Office through Deputy II. That way, the government has the same belief and enthusiasm to reduce MMR," he said.

Moeldoko hopes that UNFPA will continue to increase cooperation with the Indonesian government to help reduce MMR. "Also expand its reach by cooperating with the community of mothers who have the same movement in reducing MMR, so that they can present a massive movement," said Moeldoko.

On the same occasion, the Main Expert of Deputy II KSP Brian Sri Prahastuti revealed that KSP and UNFPA had conducted a study on the effectiveness of delivery assistance through the Guarantee of Maternity Services Financing (Jampersal) and National Health Insurance (JKN).

"Later, the results of the study will be a recommendation for the Ministry of Health," said Brian.

UNFPA has collaborated with the Indonesian government since 1972 and provides technical assistance to various ministries and agencies in the fields of maternal health, family planning, adolescent reproductive health, HIV/AIDS programs, gender, population, including disaster response.

Maternal health is one of the main program components in the 10th Indonesian Government Cooperation Program and UNFPA which is aligned to support the priority programs mentioned in the 2020-2024 RPJMN in an effort to improve the quality and competitiveness of Indonesian human resources.

Head of UNFPA Representative for Indonesia Anjali Sen explained that MMR in Indonesia should be of equal concern to the issue of stunting. "Moreover, it has entered the RPJMN, so there needs to be a movement to accelerate the decline in MMR," said Anjali.

Meanwhile, UNFPA Representative Assistant Melania Hidayat hopes that the strategic role of KSP can move the commitment of each party to realize the reduction of MMR. One of them is through increasing the competence of health workers, especially midwives.

"The ratio of the number of midwives in Indonesia is among the highest compared to other countries. Indonesia should be able to solve the MMR issue," Melania said.