Image : HE. Olivier Chambard (Ambassador of France to Indonesia)
National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN), Jakarta (18/11/2021). The French through its The embassy is ready to collaborate with Indonesia is particularly BKKBN in Family Development, Population, and Family Planning. Furthermore, concerning reproductive health of women and girls as acceleration stunting reduction in Indonesia. This was stated by the Ambassador of France to Indonesia, Olivier Chambard in Exploring Future Collaboration with the Embassy of France Event at Westin Hotel Jakarta, Thursday (18/11).
At the bilateral level, the Embassy of France welcomes the cooperation between Indonesia and UN Agencies. For instance, the related topic to BKKBN Program, we are exploring cooperation by UNFPA to elaborate a textbook regarding sexual and reproductive health for senior high schools in Indonesia. It could be implemented in a stunting reduction program. I believe that the further scientific collaboration through training of experts and the development of joint research projects in the field of public policy or specialized medical training are will be the most potential for collaboration” said Ambassador of French to Indonesia, Olivier Chambard.
The chairman of BKKBN, MD. Hasto Wardoyo, OBGYN was represented by Deputy of Training, Research, and Development of BKKBN, Prof. Rizal Damanik, Ph.D. welcomed this collaboration. “We expect through this event, BKKBN and The Embassy of France in Indonesia build good relation and cooperation, particularly in human resources development, including stunting reduction”, Prof Rizal Damanik added.
Image: Prof. drh. M Rizal. M. Damanik, MRep.Sc, PhD (Deputy for Training, Research, and Development of BKKBN)
He also emphasized that ensuring proper nutrition is the key to optimizing the health of girls, pregnant women, mothers, and baby newborns. Because of that, the intervention must be prepared according to the human life cycle, including the pre-pregnancy period. Lack of nutrition in women pregnant will impact mother and baby health, such as maternal death, premature birth, miscarriage, malnutrition, and other health risks including stunting. Therefore, an early intervention targeting women and girls particularly those in the vulnerable condition is important.
Image : Philomene Robin (University and Education Cooperation Attache, Embassy of the Republic of France).
France has been committed to eradicating malnutrition through international collaboration and national public health policy. The strategy to overcome malnutrition is not only limited to food (availability and access to safe, affordable, and nutritious food) but also include health, a clean environment, and health care for mother and children. France’s commitment to contribute to reducing stunting through providing good nutrition for mothers and children is seen in several projects, such as the Lao Project by improving the nutritional status of 480 residents. Lao has a stunting rate of 33 percent of the national population.
In Addition, France allocated a total budget of 40 million euros in 2019 to help the population regain their food autonomy and increase their resilience to the food crisis. The France Development Agency commits more than 900 million Euros annually to agricultural development and food security.
The President of The Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo is targeting the rate of stunting to reduce from 27.6% to 14% in 2024. Indonesia has to reduce the stunting rate by 2.7% every year so that BKKBN needs support from various parties both national and international to accelerate stunting reduction in Indonesia to reach the target that has been set.
Image : Jahardi Fischer P. Nadeak (Deputy Director for European Affairs I, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia)
The “Exploring Future Collaboration with the Embassy of France” Event was held on Thursday, 18 November 2021 at Westin Hotel, Jakarta, through the zoom application meeting and live streaming on the Pulin BKKBN Youtube. This event was also attended by University and Education Cooperation Attache, Embassy of the Republic of France, Ms. Philomene Robin and Deputy Director for European Affairs I, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic Indonesia, Fischer P Nadeak.