A group of 6 Japanese parliamentarians
and members of the Asia Population and Development Association
(APDA) conducted on 4 May 2009 a 2 day visit to Tasikmalaya,
West Java to observe activities at 3 project sites run by
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Japanese Organization
for International Cooperation in Family Planning (JOICFP)
and the Indonesian Planned Parenthood Association (PKBI).
The purpose of their visit was to hold dialogues with partners,
to better understand the socio-cultural settings and get
some lessons learned from project implementations.
JAKARTA, Indonesia: The road to end female circumcision
tradition in Indonesia is still long and winding, but women
and rights activists and officials from related ministires
expressed their committment to continuously fighting for
and garnering wider supports for the wellbeing of Indonesian
women and girls from the practice that cause health and
psychological impacts.
" Female circumcision or sunat perempuan tradition
reflect gender inequality that is often influenced by culture,
political and social values and so it’s very difficult
to eliminate,” said Ms. Setiawati from the Ministry
of Women’s Empowerment during a seminar on female
genital mutilation (FGM), held in Jakarta.
Ms. Chieko Nohno Secretary General of
JPFP (right) handed a traditional souvenir
to Enung Nursaidah Rahayu, head of
Puspita (center).
Male participation in maternal
health in Salawu village
The project, conducted between 204-2007 and run by JOICFP,
PKBI and UNFPA, has increased public awareness and fostered
the involvement of husbands and community members in ensuring
safe pregnancy and childbirths. The programme intervention
has mobilized religious and community leaders, local community
radio station, male educators and health workers to spread
health information and to promote availability of family
saving and community childbirth funds to enable timely access
to nearest health care for pregnant women in the village.
12 male motivators, some are community and religious leaders,
have been recruited. The male motivators and the village
midwife conduct home visits and help women plan their childbirth
to ensure skilled assistance, including by mapping pregnant
women in need of referral to hospital.
Ms. Wiwin Winarsih
(2nd left) UNFPA
Provincial Programme Manager explains
the male motivators’ role in Salawu village.
The discussion with the Japanese parliamentarians is attended
by some male motivators,
pregnant women and their husbands. Ms. Chieko Nohno Secretary
General of JPFP expressed her appreciation to the male motivators
for their role because as a former midwife she understands
that timely access to maternal care for pregnant women is
important. Ms. Nohno also encourages the pregnant women
who participate in the discussion to do pregnancy checks
periodically.
Community radio
station
The group then visited the community radio station which
has been actively educating local communities on health,
reproductive health and family planning issues. Staff at
the radio has been trained to provide RH and safe motherhood
information with one of its senior staff is also a male
motivator. The radio invites guest speakers, from local
District Health Office and local NGOs to talk about reproductive
health for its interactive programme. The programme - which
combines comedy, education, traditional music and uses Sundanese
language - is well received by local community members.
Staff at the radio educates community
about the importance of community and
husband involvement to save the lives
of pregnant women
