The Provincial Government of East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) has a number of regulations to improve the quality of reproductive health. Among them is Regional Regulation (Perda) No. 2/2018 on the Regional Health System. The regulation regulates various aspects of health implementation in NTT, including issues related to maternal and infant health services, including aspects of reproductive health.
Even so, the condition of reproductive health, especially the Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) and access to Family Planning (KB) in NTT is still far from ideal. Data shows that in 2023, 135 cases of maternal mortality occurred in NTT. This figure is quite high compared to provinces in Java. Then, data from the BKKBN (Population and Family Planning Agency) shows that the percentage of long-term contraceptive use is still far from the national target, which is 57% of 70%.
Seeing these conditions, there is a need for collaboration to plan and budget programs, especially for reproductive health interventions in NTT. That way, MMR can be reduced and the use of long-acting contraceptives will increase with the support of planning and budgeting.
IPAS Indonesia Health System Strengthening Advisor Eliza Permata Sari said, “planning and budgeting integrated with reproductive health programs help set service priorities, achievement targets, and provide the necessary resources to achieve these goals through continuous steps in the regional development process.”
To support such integration, IPAS Indonesia Foundation through the TAKENUSA project (Tekad Bersama untuk Perempuan Nusa Tenggara), organized a multi-stakeholder capacity building workshop to realize better reproductive health that focuses on planning and budgeting.
This activity was carried out in the TAKENUSA work area, namely, East Flores Regency, Kupang Regency, South Central Timor, and at the NTT Provincial level on February 20-28, 2025. This activity involved parties from the Regional Research and Innovation Development Planning Agency (Bapperida) of NTT Province, the Health Office, the Community and Village Empowerment Office, hospitals and Puskemas from the TAKENSA working area.
The head of Bapperida of NTT Province, Dr. Alfonsus Theodorus, ST, MT, appreciated this workshop. He said that this workshop coincided with the preparation period of the RPJMD (Regional Medium-Term Development Plan) of NTT Province for the period 2025-2029.
From the workshops in the three districts, the following are the challenges that need to be solved to support better planning and budgeting of Reproductive Health programs in NTT:
- Need for policy support that is aligned with reproductive health intervention programs
- Need for collaboration between government and non-government organizations
- Improve the quality of human resources, especially health service providers
- Ensure the availability of health supplies, especially for family planning programs.
- Socio-cultural approach to encourage people to access health services
