JAKARTA— The Tunisian government cooperates with the National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN) for quality development of family planning (KB) and population control. The follow-up collaboration from the memorandum of understanding (MOU) which was signed in 2019 was realized in the form of Ambassador Talks at The Westin Hotel, Jakarta, Monday (18/07/2022).
Photo: Prof. drh. Muhammad Rizal Martua Damanik, MRepSc, PhD.,(The Deputy for Training, Research, and Development of BKKBN)
“BKKBN and the National Family Planning and Population of Tunisia (ONFP) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the scope of Family Development, Family Planning and Population, BKKBN will also invite ONFPs to share best practices in building a quality nation through family planning, family development, population reduction and stunting programs,” said the Chairman of BKKBN Dr.(H.C) dr. Hasto Wardoyo, Sp.OG (K) in his speech which in this case was represented by the Deputy for Training, Research and Development of the BKKBN Prof. drh. Muhammad Rizal Martua Damanik, MRepSc, PhD.
Photo: Tunisian Ambassador to Indonesia Riadh Dridi
Tunisia, a country that is very concerned about the role of women in the public sphere and women’s empowerment even in family planning and reproductive health programs in their country.
His success in the family planning program to reduce the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) deserves thumbs up.
Since its independence in 1956, Tunisia has struggled with the lack of health structures and human resources to provide family planning services for the community. Because for Tunisia, this family planning program is closely related to the country’s economic development.
However, with all these limitations, Tunisia continues to provide family planning services for its people with mobile family planning service units which they call L’équipe mobile (EM) and La clinique mobile (CM).
This persistence bears fruit in the TFR in Tunisia, which fell from 7 in 1964 to 5 in 1984.
Tunisia’s persistence in family planning programs and the historical closeness of the founding fathers of each country made the Indonesian National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN) initiate the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Tunisian Government on September 3, 2019.
Tunisian Ambassador to Indonesia Riadh Dridi who was also present at the event welcomed this activity as a follow-up to the MoU. He also explained about Tunisia’s success in family planning and reproductive health programs and the role of women in it.
According to him, family planning and reproductive health programs have contributed to controlling demographic growth, expanding contraceptive coverage, controlling fertility, and improving maternal and child health.
The results of this national program also have a positive impact on improving women’s quality of life and balance in the family and society.
Indonesian Ambassador to Tunisia Zuhairi Misrawi who was present at the event conveyed that the participation of Tunisian women in the development of civilization and justice and prosperity would accelerate the role of Indonesian women in development.
“I see in this issue the participation of women is very large and very important. Tunisia has good experience to collaborate on how to increase women’s participation in Indonesia, especially in the Proud Kencana program and stunting reduction programs,” said Zuhairi Misrawi.
Meanwhile, the Deputy for Training, Research, and Development of the BKKBN Prof. dr. Muhammad Rizal Martua Damanik, MRepSc, PhD in his presentation explained the programs that have been carried out by the BKKBN in the Bangga Kencana Program and the Acceleration of Stunting Reduction.
Among them are the formation of the Stunting Reduction Task Force, 100 professors talking about stunting in 34 provinces, Ambassador Talks, research with academics, webinars involving the community at the grassroots level, training of family planning providers and extension workers, partnering with national and international partners,
Stunting Concerned Student Programme, Fostering Stunting Children, develops an information technology platform, the upcoming International Academic Conference on health and Stunting, DASHAT (Healthy Kitchen Overcomes Stunting) and other programs.
Photo: dr. Wijaya Lukito, PhD. (a lecturer at the Department of Nutrition, FKUI)
This time, the Ambassador Talks with the theme “Redefining Family Empowerment to Strengthen Policies in Developing a Quality Nation” will be carried out in a hybrid manner, online through Zoom meetings and the BKKBN Official YouTube account, and offline at the Westin Hotel, Jakarta on Monday, July 18, 2022.
This event was moderated by a lecturer at the Department of Nutrition, FKUI, dr. Wijaya Lukito, PhD.
This event was opened by the Head of BKKBN Dr. (H.C) dr. Hasto Wardoyo, Sp.OG (K) in his speech which in this case was represented by the Deputy for Training, Research and Development of the BKKBN Prof. dr. Muhammad Rizal Martua Damanik, MRepSc, PhD with the main speaker being the Tunisian Ambassador to Indonesia, Riadh Dridi.
In addition, they also explained the state of the Proud Kencana program and stunting by the Indonesian Ambassador to Tunisia, Zuhairi Misrawi, and the Joint Director of Technical Cooperation in the National Board of Family and Population of the Republic of Tunisia, Madam Raja TOUIL CHAABANE.N (RFS/Public Relations).
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No. 158/M.C/VII/2022