Indonesia pushes for MDG 5 target

Ministers in Indonesia hope that a new health programme will help the country achieve the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) 5 target - a 75 per cent decline in maternal deaths, from 1990 levels, within two years' time.

The Action Plan for the Acceleration of Maternal Mortality Rate Reduction 2013-2015 outlines three strategies and seven distinct programmes, which are intended to strengthen partnerships between the government and private sector, and to improve healthcare in rural areas.

According to news agency Antara, the Health Ministry also issued a pocket book for paramedics and clinicians.

This contains guidance on procedures like making referrals, early diagnosis of pregnancy-related complications and emergency handling.

Based on the rate of progress identified in the Indonesian Health and Demographic Survey 1990-2007, the country is expected to lower the number of maternal mortalities to 161 per 100,000 live births by 2015.

This is some way short of the MDG 5 target for Indonesia, which stipulates a maximum of 102 deaths per 100,000 live births.

source: www.figo.org