~For: December 6th 2005<\/p>\n
Quality Family Planning Conference
\nHighlights Importance of Partnership<\/p>\n
Ensuring that Indonesian couples have access to quality family
\nplanning services is the subject of a three-day conference
\nstarting in Medan on Tuesday, Dec. 6.<\/p>\n
An expected 500 participants, including health professionals,
\ngovernment officials, NGO representatives and donors have been
\ninvited from seven provinces to the December 2005 Quality
\nConference, organized by the National Family Planning
\nCoordinating Board (BKKBN) and supported and funded by the US
\nAgency for International Development (USAID).<\/p>\n
The conference is the latest highlight in a partnership
\nbetween USAID and BKKBN that goes back 35 years. Now, after
\nworking together on one of the world's longest and most
\nsuccessful family planning and reproductive health programs, the
\nGovernment of Indonesia and USAID are moving to a new phase. In
\nSeptember 2006, USAID will increase the population assistance
\nmoney it provides to the BKKBN.<\/p>\n
'A bridge between two countries'.<\/p>\n
\"The relationship between the Government of Indonesia and USAID
\nis one of the most successful partnerships in this country,\"
\nexplains Monica Kerrigan, the senior advisor for Reproductive
\nHealth for USAID. \"Throughout our 35-year collaboration with
\nBKKBN, Indonesians have taken USAID's technical assistance and
\nmade one of the most successful programs in family planning,
\nreproductive health and population in the world.<\/p>\n
USAID is very proud of these achievements and we would like to
\nhonor and celebrate this with the BKKBN and with other
\nstakeholders.\"<\/p>\n
The former Chairman of BKKBN, Dr. Haryono Suyono is a founding
\nfather of the family planning program in Indonesia. He was also
\none of the driving forces behind the early teamwork. \"It was a
\nbeautiful relationship underscored by excellent cooperation,\"
\nsays Suyono.<\/p>\n
\"There was a great deal of respect and trust on both sides.
\nWhat is important today is not the money that USAID brought to
\nthe program, but the relationships that grew out of our shared
\ngoals. It wasn't just a bilateral commitment; our relationship
\nwas a bridge between our two countries.\"<\/p>\n
Dr. Sumarjati Arjoso is the current head of BKKBN. Under her
\nguidance, the national FP\/RH program has built on its strong
\nsuccess.<\/p>\n
The advancement of the mature population assistance program
\ncomes as USAID builds on its commitment to family planning and
\nreproductive health across the archipelago with an integrated
\nstrategy for mother and child health.<\/p>\n
\"USAID supports Indonesia's commitment to the vital ongoing
\nneed for quality family planning that respects the choices and
\nmeets the needs of all families, explains Kerrigan.<\/p>\n
Success through partnership<\/p>\n
The Indonesian Family Planning Program is internationally
\nrecognized for its success in bringing down the average family
\nsize, increasing the use of contraceptives and improving the
\nhealth of women and children.<\/p>\n
In the 1960s, women were routinely having six children and at
\nleast two, on average, would die before reaching school age.
\nToday, total fertility stands at 2.6 children per family and more
\nthan 60 percent of married couples use some form of
\ncontraception. But the gradual downward trend masks huge
\nchallenges that the leaders of the national family program and
\ntheir partners first had to overcome.<\/p>\n
\"The biggest challenges were to make family planning
\nacceptable in a social and cultural sense and create the demand
\nfor family planning, while providing quality services and
\ncreating an enabling environment so it could be made available in
\na very transparent, open manner,\" explains Kerrigan. \"Through
\npartnership, those three things have happened. Together we have
\nbuilt a family planning program that is laying the foundations
\nfor sustainable national development.\"<\/p>\n
STARH Program<\/p>\n
USAID has funded a special final-phase program that is being
\nimplemented by Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
\nCenter for Communication Programs and Johns Hopkins' JHPIEGO.<\/p>\n
The STARH (Sustaining Technical Achievements in Reproductive
\nHealth\/Family Planning) program works with all stakeholders to
\nimprove the quality and choice of family planning options
\navailable to Indonesians, while advocating for continued
\ngovernment support. Capacity building, communication and the
\ndrawing up of new national standards have been the main areas of
\nactivity.<\/p>\n
\"The USAID funded STARH program have been a key part of our
\nfamily planning strategy,\" explains Pak Mazwar Noerdin, the
\nDeputy for Family Information and Program Policy Integration at
\nBKKBN.<\/p>\n
\"Family planning is not a static issue. We are always looking
\nfor ways to tackle new challenges such as those presented by
\ndecentralization. In 2004, responsibility for family planning
\nshifted from the national level to the regional level.<\/p>\n
How do we ensure that the family planning needs of Indonesians
\nare met? USAID has helped us throughout this period with the
\ntools and technical expertise to help us find creative solutions
\nto the country's constantly changing paradigm.\"<\/p>\n
In Indonesia today, the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) is 2.6 -
\ndown from a rate of around 6.0 in the 1960s.<\/p>\n
Partnership after graduation<\/p>\n
As BKKBN looks forward to the new post-graduation phase, the
\ncoordinating body anticipates a strong ongoing relationship with
\nUSAID.<\/p>\n
\"We need to ensure that the advances we have made are
\nsustainable,\" explains Pak Noerdin. \"We need to learn as much as
\npossible from USAID in the immediate months and we look forward
\nto working with them in close partnership in the future.\"<\/p>\n
USAID is also anticipating an exciting new chapter in
\nrelations. They will continue to support family planning through
\nthe Mother and Child Health program, while promoting Indonesia as
\nan international leader in family planning and reproductive
\nhealth. \"This program has come along way. Now that it is mature
\nwe feel they should now lead the way. We don't see graduation as
\nlosing touch with BKKBN, rather it's a new approach to a shared
\nchallenge.\"<\/p>\n
The Family Planning Quality Conference is being hosted at the
\nGrand Angkasa Hotel in Medan. It runs from Dec. 6 to Dec. 8,
\n2005.
\n
\n********
\nUSEFUL WEB PAGES:
\nwww.bkkbn.go.id\/
\nwww.usaid.gov\/id\/about\/bhs.html
\nwww.jhuccp.org\/asia\/indonesia\/starh<\/p>\n
RESOURCES
\nwww.kbberkualitas.or.id<\/p>\n
CONTACT DETAILS:<\/p>\n
STARH Program, BKKBN Building 1, 3rd Floor, Jl Permata 1, Halim
\nPerdanakusuma, Jakarta Timor, 13650. Tel: (62 21) 801 6640, 525
\n2174; 525 2183 Fax: (62 21) 801 6649. E-mail: starh@jhuccp.or.id<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/for-december-6th-2005-1447899208",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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