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.