We are implementing the gender mainstreaming strategy through bolstering data and data sources, gender responsive program and regulation, and affirmative action to maintain mothers' and girls' health.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Women's Empowerment and Child Protection Ministry has encouraged to increase women's access to health services and avail better benefits as well as their participation in development, especially concerning issues of reproductive health of mothers and girls.

"We are implementing the gender mainstreaming strategy through bolstering data and data sources, gender responsive program and regulation, and affirmative action to maintain mothers' and girls' health," the ministry's official, Lenny N. Rosalin, noted.

In a press statement here on Thursday, Rosalin remarked that this intervention starts from the role of children under 18 years of age through a forum to discuss issues concerning reproductive health and violence.

This will be commenced at the village, sub-district, district, or city levels all the way up to the national level, she affirmed.

According to Rosalin, women, especially pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, experienced difficulties in getting access to various basic health services, such as periodic pregnancy examinations, during the pandemic.

They also encountered problems while in labor if they were determined to be COVID-19 positive.

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Meanwhile, for children, in addition to access to basic health services, they are also far more vulnerable to contracting COVID-19 because only children of a certain age bracket could receive vaccination.

The ministry is also edifying Indonesian families, specifically pregnant, breastfeeding, and future mothers, through the family learning center (puspaga), so that they could receive information on reproductive health, Rosalin added.

The ministry also held discussions with the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (Cedaw) Committee, she remarked.

This discussion concerns the need to expand access to sexual and reproductive health services in villages and reduce the number of maternal and infant deaths, she stated.

The ministry will support the recommendation of the Cedaw Committee, such as ensuring that women have access to reproductive health information, expanding the scope of health service access, and reducing the rate of violence experienced by women.


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Translator: Anita Permata D, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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