Irian tribe joins family planning

WAMENA, Irian Jaya: Despite low education levels, villagers of the Baliem Valley, Jayawijaya regency, are eagerly participating in the government-sponsored family planning programs.

Husin Ekawaluya, the local spokesman for the National Coordinating Agency for Family Planning, told Antara in Wamena that the villagers prefer injections to condoms and pills.

In addition to using "modern contraceptives", the members of the Dhani tribe also use their own traditional contraceptives to space births, Husin said. "This practice really helps the local family planning workers," he said.

Even now, however, the tribespeople still keep their traditional contraceptives a secret, making it difficult for the workers or other health authorities to study their effectiveness or safety, Husin said. (swe)