Kulon Progo, Yogyakarta (ANTARA News) - A district councilor has deplored the high rate of maternal mortality that reaches 136.8 per 100 thousand live births in Kulon Progo District, Yogyakarta.

Chairman of the National Awakening Party Faction of the Kulon Progro Regional Legislative Assembly Sihabbudin stated here on Monday that the maternal mortality rate target for the region has been set at 53.21 per 100 thousand live births in the mid-term development plan for the 2011-2016 period.

However, until now, the mortality rate is still 136.8 per 100 thousand live births.

"We see that no serious efforts have been made to reduce the maternal mortality rate in Kulon Progo due to which it is still high," Sihabbudin noted.

The district government of Kulon Progo, through its Health Service, should conduct a comprehensive study to gauge the hurdles being faced in reducing the mortality rate.

"I urged the regional government of Kulon Progo to give priority to bringing down the maternal mortality rate. This should be accorded priority in the health sector," Sihabbudin emphasized.

The maternal mortality rate of 136.98 per 100 thousand live births increased drastically in 2016 as compared to 38.22 per 100 thousand live births recorded in 2015.(*)

Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2017