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Couples to receive guidance
Fri, 08/29/2008 10:42 AM | National
The National Family Planning Board (BKKBN) has agreed with the Religious Affairs Ministry to hold pre-wedding courses for future brides and grooms to focus on family planning for young couples.
"The course will help young couples in running a family and in choosing the most suitable contraception for them," BKKBN chair Sugiri Syarief said here Thursday.
"The program will be conducted for all religions. There's no debate anymore whether family planning is halal or haram (permitted or forbidden)," he said.
Sugiri has repeatedly warned that Indonesia might face a second baby boom by 2014. BKKBN says the country's birth rate has been stable in the past five years, with the average number of children born per Indonesian woman steady at 2.6 from 2002 through 2007. However, more women between the ages of 20 and 24 are giving birth for the first time compared to the same group five years ago.
"The trend shows the age of first-time mothers is dropping. Therefore, we have invited well-known TV actors to give their testimony on the importance of family planning tomorrow (Friday) at Tamini Square (East Jakarta)," he said.
The BKKBN expects 30 artists, "idols for the younger generation", to show up for the event.
To gear up and publicize the family planning program, the BKKBN has begun to re-employ its retired staff, contract counselors, invite volunteers from NGOs and enlist university students.
Sugiri said the BKKBN would also focus on getting the word out by distributing free contraceptives in poor neighborhoods and isolated regions, reducing the unmet need for contraceptives and developing capacity in regencies and municipalities to provide such services.
The Regional Representatives Council deputy speaker La Ode Ida welcomed the strategy and called for "the need to revitalize the family planning program and urge the government's intervention in the program at the regency and municipal level". -- JP
Jon (not verified) — Mon, 10/27/2008 - 9:28pm
This is great news one of the few good things that suharto got in place was the keluarga berencana or family planning for two children only. It's very important for Indonesia and the world to control birth and have fewer but better quality children. Most young couples don't even know how to cook anymore apart from instant noodles. It's a great program and i hope it will be implanted soon in all corners of the country.