"I will be in Rote Island, East Nusa Tenggara, as it is bordering Australia. There will be more (made available) in the outermost (areas of Indonesia). One thing is for sure, priority (is being accorded) for family planning and birth control services in those 3T areas," Population and Family Development Minister Wihaji remarked.
He stated here on Wednesday that National Family Day will be commemorated modestly but with a strong emphasis on delivering these services to benefit those who use them.
"Hence, it is not just (about making) noise. If possible, the noise should have an impact and offer an understanding of what the Population and Family Development Ministry does," Wihaji remarked.
The minister explained that each area's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is considered when offering contraceptives. Wihaji quoted data from Statistics Indonesia (BPS) which says that Indonesia's current TFR is 2.18, which is close to the ideal figure.
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This means that on average, each woman gives birth to two children during her reproductive years.
"We need to remember that this control measure needs to take (some aspects) into account. If the population growth is low, we see the TFR at 1.8 or 1.7, for example, we need to be cautious. We need to know which ones to prioritize," he stated.
Wihaji noted that some areas, such as Jakarta, have a low TFR of 1. However, his administration continues to offer contraceptives in these areas, given the residents' awareness of reproductive health and the importance of birth control.
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Translator: Lintang Budiyanti Prameswari, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Rahmad Nasution
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