Head of the BKKBN Hasto Wardoyo met Indonesians working for a Malaysian oil palm and rubber plantation in Ladang Ladong, Simunjan, Sarawak, on Saturday, and informed them about the agency's Family Development, Population, and Family Planning (Bangga Kencana) Program and stunting reduction efforts.
"President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) instructed us to travel to the borders of Indonesian territory to check whether the people here are in good health or not," he said.
The government wants to ensure that people living in the border areas can access reproductive health services and other primary health services, he added.
During the activity, midwives deployed from Sambas, West Kalimantan, provided contraceptive services to 100 Indonesian workers.
Wardoyo said that contraception is necessary for regulating birth intervals, which is an important factor in stunting prevention.
"Do not let our nation have high stunting rates. Women should not let their children have non-optimal development," he added.
A migrant from Makassar, South Sulawesi, Wati, welcomed the health counseling activity carried out by BKKBN in Ladang Ladong.
Wati said she was happy to gain additional knowledge about reproductive health.
"Alhamdulillah (Thank God), I have three children, but all are more than five years apart, and no one is stunted," she added.
Meanwhile, executive manager of Tradewinds Jamali thanked the Indonesian Consulate General (KJRI) in Kuching and the BKKBN for holding the health education activity, which was aimed at preventing stunting and promoting family planning in Ladang Ladong.
Indonesian Consul General in Kuching, Sigit Witjaksono, expressed the hope that the BKKBN would hold similar activities for Indonesian workers in other parts of Malaysia.
"We hope that this program can be continued for Indonesian migrant workers in other areas in Malaysia," he said.
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Translator: Astrid H, Kenzu
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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