UNICEF Notes Large Drop in Child Mortality in Indonesia

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - UNICEF recently released a report showing how Indonesia is making substantial progress in reducing child mortality rate. The report, entitled "Promise Renewed: 2015 Progress Report" stated that the mortality rate of Indonesians aged five and below currently stands at 27 deaths per 1,000 births, a number far lesser compared to the 85 deaths per 1,000 births recorded in 1990.

The lower number means that lives of five million Indonesian children have been saved. The report estimated that in 1990 around 395,000 Indonesian children died before celebrating their fifth birthday. The number however, has been been succesfully reduced to 147,000 in 2015.

"Saving the lives of millions of children is one of Indonesia's great achievements over the past 25 years," said UNICEF Representative Gunilla Olsson. "This progress is the result of sustained action by the country's leaders – to make saving children's lives a policy priority and to scale up coverage of key interventions."

The reduction was a result of the implementation of cost-effective solutions, including expanding coverage of immunization, exclusive breastfeeding and the prompt diagnosis and treatment of common childhood illnesses, coupled with economic growth.

"But approximately 150,000 Indonesian children still die every year before celebrating their fifth birthday. This is unacceptable," Olsson said.

Olsson added that to further reduce child mortality rate, there are other issues that must be addressed, inlcuding complications from premature birth, severe infections, and asphyxia. Addressing these issues, Olsson stated, would require an around-the-clock medical services that can be available in all regions of the country.

MAHINDA ARKYASA