Jakarta gets Rp 2.4b family service center
Jakarta gets Rp 2.4b family service center
JAKARTA (JP): A new family service center which aims to
provide consultation and training on family affairs will be
opened today at Jl. Brawijaya III/8 Kebayoran Baru, South
Jakarta.
The 60 sq.m-center was built and will be managed by the
Indonesian Planned Parenthood Association (PKBI), and the
center's opening coincides with the association's 38th
anniversary.
The construction of the Rp 2.4 billion center is funded by the
association and foreign donors, including the International
Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) and Canada International
Development Assistance (CIDA).
Kartono Mohammad, chairman of the association said that the
center was built to respond to the rising depression among people
in the city.
The family service center will help people adapt to any
development in society, he said.
The center, open to the public next year, is aimed to help
youths and parents solve their family problems.
According to him, the consultation and training will cover
several matters, including relationships among youths and between
youths and parents, unwanted pregnancy, healthy reproduction,
pre-marriage problems, healthy contraception, sexual problems,
psychological problems, and rape.
Eight people including a physician, a paramedic, a lawyer and
a psychologist, will be ready to provide services. The number of
staff will be adjusted according to needs, Kartono said.
To recover its costs, the center will charge those who come
for consultation. But, "Those who do not have money are welcome,"
he said, adding the center is not profit oriented.
In its 38th anniversary, PKBI will link up with the state-
owned telecommunication company PT Telkom to issue telephone
cards with messages on healthy reproduction.
Founded on Dec. 23, 1957, PKBI is the first non-governmental
organization to pioneer family planning here. It now boasts 24
provincial branches and 155 sub-branches in regencies and
municipalities, served by 6,000 volunteers and 300 personnel.
Even now, after the government has taken the initiative in
family planning drives, the organization remains active in
activities such as anti-AIDS campaign, handling juvenile
delinquency and advising women on their rights. (29)