Tribes reject family planning

Tribes reject family planning

PALU, Central Sulawesi: About half of the indigenous people in
Central Sulawesi are rejecting the government's call to join the
family planning program because it goes against their mystic
beliefs, Antara reported.

During a recent trip to Saloya, a village where one isolated
tribe lives, Antara said many housewives considered
contraceptives taboo.

Mrs. Sutiri, a 35-year-old woman who has given birth seven
times, said each birth is considered a sacred gift from her
ancestors and therefore cannot be rejected.

She and many other women in the village have rejected all
offers of help, including medical treatment, from family planning
extension workers.

Yunus Patriawan, the spokesman of the Central Sulawesi
National Family Planning Office, said isolation, poor access to
villages and a language barrier are some of the difficulties
encountered by his employees.

Of the approximately 10,000 families of indigenous, largely
nomadic people in Central Sulawesi, the government has only
managed to settle 3,000 of them. (emb)