Jakarta, June 20 -- The Midwifery Collegium and National Health Council (KKI) have launched a framework for the development of a new curriculum for midwifery education, which aims to improve midwifery education and ensure the health of mothers and babies.

In a statement released here on Friday, Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin said that improving midwifery education is a strategic means to reduce mother and infant mortality, as it can equip midwives with the capabilities necessary for this task.

The curriculum, he said, must support four main focuses: orderly data entry, competency building, timely and precise referral, and a more extensive role of midwives.

"Midwives should not be limited to helping during labor only, but also offe...