Jokowi Lauds Report on Indonesia's Rising Pregnancy Rate

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Wednesday ecstatically reacted to reports suggesting that Indonesia’s post-marriage pregnancy rate had swelled. He cited the report where the pregnancy rate among 2 million newly-married couples reached 4.8 million. 

“This means that there is no sex recession in Indonesia. It grew by 2.1 percent, which is good,” said Jokowi in opening the National Population and Family Planning Board (BKKBN) meeting on January 25, “This must be noted. The population size of a country is economic strength.”

However, the President reminded people that the quality of statistical growth must be maintained by consistently providing children with proper nutrition and avoiding stunting. 

“The quality of the family, and human resources, are the key for our nation to compete with other countries. The synergy between state ministries and agencies, health workers, TNI- Police, and the private sector are crucial,” said the President. 

This comes as global reports suggest East Asian countries such as Japan, China, and South Korea have reported a phenomenon touted “sex recession.”

Head of the BKKBN Hasto Wardoyo said of the 2 million married Indonesians, 1.6 million of them entered pregnancy in their first year of marriage. However, Hasto said that out of this number, 400,000 babies were born experiencing stunting.

Hasto asserted that it is necessary for couples to conduct examination before marriage to physically prepare young parents before conceiving.

M JULNIS FIRMANSYAH 

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