Indonesian Infant Mortality Rate on the Spotlight

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - Indonesian Minister of Women Empowerment and Child Protection, Yohana Yembise attended an event for children held by Non-Governmental Organization of LSM Save The Children at GOR Soemantri Brojonegoro in Kuningan earlier today (29/8/2015).

She went to explain that infant mortality rate is still relatively high in Indonesia and has become one of the major concerns of her institution. Indonesian babies at their neonatal period or 28 days post-birth are susceptible to the likeliness of death.

Due to worrying escalation of infant mortality, Minister Yohana said to have established cooperation with relevant ministries such as, health and social as to design a counseling program that will be useful in the prevention of infant mortality hike.

Pregnant women will be encouraged to be part of such counseling, so that they know what to do and what to avoid in order to generate a stable and healthy baby.

"We are also inviting relevant institutions stationed in the district area to help us by assisting pregnant women in those region to get the proper treatment they deserve. It is our duty to serve women and coordinate with regional institutions and remind them of their duty," Minister Yohana said.

Chairman of Regional House of Representatives (DPD), Irman Gusman also shares his worry over escalating death toll of newborn and said that the primary cause to such continually rising number is because the country's development, especially in the health sector is not evenly divided in all parts of Indonesian region with focus placed primarily on regions situated within Java region.

According to him, if information technology is properly applied and established equally in all parts of the Indonesian region within the period of 10 years, then it is very likely that such issue can be addressed. (Akp/Tnt)