Irian tribe joins family planning

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)