Desy Nurhayati, Jakarta – Indonesia should double its budget for reproductive health services in order to reduce the country's maternal mortality rate, said United Nation Population Fund (UNFPA) representative in Indonesia Zahidul Huque here Monday.
At the launch of the UN's report "Reproductive Health Costing 2005-2010", Huque said the Indonesian government needed to spend more than 1 percent of its GDP on reproductive health.
He said it must provide better facilities for pre- and post-natal health care, especially for underprivileged families and those in rural areas.
Indonesia was a country chosen by the UNFPA specifically for the pilot project because the archipelago has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in Southeast Asia.
Huque said, "We estimate that it will require an annual investment of US$4 per woman at reproductive age to establish full coverage of quality reproductive health system". "In fact, Indonesia only spends about $2.87 (per woman) despite the high maternal mortality rate of 420 per 100,000 births in the country."
He said there were many women "still unable to fulfill their reproductive health needs".
"If the mortality rate of mothers is combined with that of the infants, the figure is enormous, and it is like a tip of the iceberg," Huque said.
"With the investment of only $4 per woman per year, the government can provide reliable reproductive health services to ensure safe pregnancy and delivery."
The report is a result of UNFPA's study in 22 regencies in six provinces: Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, South Sumatra, West Java, West Kalimantan, West Nusa Tenggara and East Nusa Tenggara.
Studies revealed 66 percent of births nationwide were assisted by trained health professionals and attendants – out of some 4.5 million births per year. Children delivered in a registered health facility delivery made up 39 percent of the country's total births.
Huque said to achieve greater health for the country in this area, the government should spend a total of $201 million – a $7 million increase per year – to 2010.
To realize the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by 2015, the government needed to secure $212.3 million, or an annual increase of $2.1 million from 2010 and 2015, he said.
Improving maternal health and reduce mortality of children under five years old are among MDGs' targets.
"The improvement of reproductive health care should be prioritized in remote areas since there is a huge disparity of facilities between developed and underprivileged regions," Huque said.
"Besides, mothers in remote areas usually prefer to deliver their babies at home rather than going to health facilities, so we also need to change their mindset and raise their awareness. And this will require involvement from local people and administrations."
Health Ministry's director of mother's health affairs, Sri Hermiyanti, said promoting reproductive health was essential for the country's future.
She said the UN's results on reproductive health cost requirements should be communicated to policy makers, both at national and local levels so that budgets could be increased appropriately.