Jakarta, December 15, 2014 – Founder / CEO of YCAB Foundation, Veronica Colondam received an award for reducing the death rate of babies in Indonesia from the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia.
In an effort to improve the health of the people of Indonesia, there is still a significant challenge in the development of health, namely the Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and infant mortality rate (IMR). In Indonesia, there are approximately 44 mothers and 440 babies die every day.
Referring to the causes of maternal mortality, the most direct cause of maternal death is hemorrhage, infection and hypertension in pregnancy; Most causes of infant deaths are caused by neonatal problems such as low birth weight (LBW), asphyxia, diarrhea, and pneumonia, as well as some other infectious diseases, in which infectious diseases can be prevented by immunization.
“Health research data base (Riskesdas) 2013 mentions several reasons children are not immunized, among others, for fear of heat, the family does not permit it, the distance to get the immunization is too far, the busyness of parents, children are often sick, and did not know where to get the immunization”, said Minister of Health, Prof. Dr dr. Nila Farid Moeloek, Sp.M (K), at the opening of the Workshop on Improvement of Maternal Health and Immunization in Jakarta, Wednesday (17/12).
On the occasion, the Minister said maternal and infant health problems are very complex. The major contributing factors in increasing the risk of maternal death is known as the “4 Too”, which is too young, too old, too often give birth, and too many children. Delay factor is also influential, ie too late to recognize the danger signs of pregnancy and childbirth, late in reaching health-care facilities, as well as the delay in getting help.