China studies RI's family planning

China studies RI's family planning

JAKARTA: Fourteen Chinese officials are attending a course on
reproductive health and family planning here from March 25 to
April 2, Antara reported yesterday.

The officials met the state minister of population/chairman of
the National Family Planning Board, Haryono Suyono, at his office
Tuesday.

Haryono said the country's family planning program was
successful because it had the support of social and religious
leaders, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the media.

It was also successful because the program's strategy
conformed to sociocultural values.

He said the program, involving 50,000 staff from the family
planning board and NGOs, had lowered the population growth rate
from 2.8 percent in 1970 to 1.6 percent today.

He said nearly 60 percent of the country's married couples of
child-bearing age followed the program.

China is one of 86 countries which are sending officials to
study how Indonesia runs its family planning program. (swe)