The National Family Planning and Population Board (BKKBN) has said the maternal mortality rate in Papua Province remains high.
"The local government should pay serious attention to the high maternal mortality rate. It should protect Papuan women and improve their reproductive health," Julianto Witjaksono, BKKBN deputy of family planning and reproduction health, said on Wednesday.
Julianto said that about 500 mothers died of bleeding during labor every year in Keerom regency.
It was also difficult for officials to provide family planning services for native Papuan women, he said during the visit by the organization of cabinet ministers' wives at Wulukubun village in Keerom regency to have a close look at public facilities and family planning services there.
"Of the many family planning services, they prefer to use pills, injection and implant methods," he said as quoted by Antara news agency.