Govt Aims To Reduce Maternal Mortality In North Maluku

Ternate, N Maluku, Aug 22 (Antara): The Indonesian government`s Board for National Population and Family Planning (BKKBN) for the North Maluku region office has set a target to lower the maternal mortality rate in the area. The board`s regional chief Waspi remarked that they plan to decrease the number of maternal deaths by offering counseling in every village in the North Maluku area. According to the board`s data in 2013, there were 50 maternal deaths recorded in the area, which is lower than the national figure of 228 deaths per 100 thousand deliveries. Besides maternal mortality, the board is also paying serious attention to the infant mortality rate in North Maluku recorded at 38 deaths in 2013, which is higher than the national average of 34 deaths per one thousand births. The board, with the involvement of a number of related stakeholders, will take efforts to lower the maternal and infant mortality rates, Waspi emphasized. The high mortality rate in the area is caused by a lack of sanitary knowledge related to labor and infant grooming. Many North Maluku residents are still unaware of the importance of vaccinations and nutritious food for babies and toddlers. "Therefore, the board is also providing food assistance for improving the baby`s nutritional state, besides providing counseling on baby grooming," Waspi stated. The board is also working towards controlling the birth rate as North Maluku`s population growth in 2013 reached 2.44 percent, higher that the national growth of 1.49 percent.