REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA - The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has highlighted the significant contribution of midwives in decreasing maternal and neonatal mortality rate in Indonesia.

UNFPA Indonesia's representative Jose Ferraris stated during a press conference of "The State of the World's Midwifery (SoWMy) 2014" seminar on Monday, that globally, maternal mortality was recorded at 96 percent, prenatal deaths at 91 percent, and newborn mortality at 93 percent.

The numbers were revealed as a result of a survey conducted in 73 countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America, which also showed that only 22 percent of the countries had potentially competent midwives to provide basic health services for mothers and newborn babies.

"If the midwives are offered professional training then they can potentially contribute in reducing two-thirds of the maternal and newborn mortalities," Ferraris pointed out.

Ferraris explained that by offering 87 percent of health services to mothers and newborn babies, the midwives would ensure that women were able to avail their health rights.

He emphasized that midwives were able to provide information and educate the community about sexual health, reproduction, modern family planning through contraception, and maintaining maternal health.

"Therefore, the qualified midwifery can save more lives and contribute in establishing healthy families and more productive communities," he asserted.

The SoWMy 2014 report adopted recommendations for narrowing the gap to better health access through providing greater investment in midwifery, including education, legalization, strengthening the midwifery association, and supervision. According to the World Health Organization, maternal and newborn mortality rate in Indonesia is still high with 359 deaths per 100 thousand births in 2012. In fact, based on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Indonesia has set a target to reduce maternal mortality rate to 102 deaths per 100 thousand births by 2015.

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