REMARKS BY DR. DR. MOHAMED A. SHEIKH DIRECTOR GENERAL, NCPD, GOVERNMENT OF KENYA DURING THE TRAINING ON FAMILY PLANNING AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH IN ASTON HOTEL, MAIDUN CITY, EAST JAVA, INDONESIA

REPUBLIC OF KENYA

TRAINING ON FAMILY PLANNING AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH: AN EXCHANGE LEARNING PROGRAM FOR KENYA

Aston Hotel, Madiun City

East Java, Indonesia

17-23 September 2023

 Grand Opening Ceremony

 REMARKS BY DR. DR. MOHAMED A. SHEIKH

DIRECTOR GENERAL, NCPD, GOVERNMENT OF KENYA

H.E Mr. Maidi, the Mayor of Madiun City

Director for International Development Cooperation, Ministry for Forein Affairs, Madam Maria Renata Hutagalung

The Principal Director for Indonesian AID, Mr. Tormabulang Lumnan Tobing

 Deputy for Training, Research and Development, Prof Rizal Damanik

 Head of BKKBN East Java Province, Madam Maria Ernawati

 Head of Centre for International Traning and Collaboration BKKBN, Dr. Ukik Kusuma

 Secretary of the Kenya Embassy of Jakarta, Ms. Maurine Abungo

 All head of Offices of Madiun City Government

All Local Government Leaders Communication Forum or Forkopimda the Madiun City

 Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

 Good morning

It is truly a great honor and privilege to be here today on this auspicious occasion of the grand opening ceremony for the Kenyan delegation invited for training on family planning and reproductive health, exchange learning program here in the beautiful city of Madiun, Indonesia. This event symbolizes not only the collaboration between our two countries but also our shared commitment towards promoting South-South Cooperation towards the achievement of ICPD and SDG goals.

I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Indonesian government, the organizers of this training program BKKBN, the Mayor of Madiun City and the gracious people of Madiun for extending their warm welcome to our delegation. Your hospitality exemplifies the spirit of international cooperation and solidarity.

Kenya is a leader in population and development matters and as country we are acutely aware of the critical importance of family planning and reproductive health in the pursuit of a healthier, more prosperous future for our nation. We recognize that when individuals and families have access to comprehensive reproductive health services and the knowledge to make informed choices, it empowers them to lead more fulfilling lives while contributing to the sustainable development of our society. Overtime, the government of Kenya has developed a number of population policies, strategies and programmes to address population management challenges. The implementation of these policies and programmes has yielded substantial dividends towards the realization of Kenya Vision 2030 which aims to attain a high quality of life for the people of Kenya. These efforts have led to decline in population growth rate, reduction in fertility, mortality and improved life expectancy. According to the 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census the Kenya’s Population is 47.6 million people. The population growth rate has declined over the years from 3.3 per cent in 1984 to 2.3 percent in 2019. The use of modern methods of family planning among currently married women in Kenya has been on the rise, increasing from 18% in 1989 to 57% in 2022. Despite these improvements 14% of married women still have an unmet need for family planning, which means that some are still not able to access modern contraceptives to prevent unwanted pregnancies.

Mortality rates among infants and under-five have also improved over time in Kenya. Infant mortality rate decreased from 61 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1989 to 32 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022. Similarly, under-five mortality rate declined from 90 deaths per 1,000 live births in 1989 to 41 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2022. However, we are still miles away from the ICPD Programme of Action’s target to reduce maternal deaths to fewer than 75 per 100,000 live births in Kenya, from the current rate of 355 deaths per 100,000 live births.

The training program ahead represents an invaluable opportunity for the Kenya delegates to acquire knowledge, skills, and best practices in family planning and reproductive health. It will equip them with the tools necessary to address the unique challenges faced by our country and to help improve the overall quality of life for our citizens.

Today, we have the opportunity to learn from each other, exchange best practices, lessons learnt and forge partnerships that will enable us to confront the global issues of our time, including healthcare access, teenage pregnancy, gender equality and environmental sustainability. It is through collaboration and shared knowledge that we can make meaningful progress towards achieving ICPD and SDGs and leaving no one behind.

I would like to commend the dedication and hard work of all those involved in organizing this training initiative, from the government officials, development partners, community leaders to the healthcare professionals and educators. Your commitment to sharing expertise and fostering cross-cultural learning is commendable and will undoubtedly lead to lasting positive impacts in both Kenya and Indonesia.

Let us remember that our collective efforts in family planning and reproductive health are not only about numbers or statistics; they are about individuals, families, and communities. Each life we touch through education and access to healthcare represents a brighter, healthier future for our societies.

As we embark on this journey of knowledge sharing and collaboration, I encourage our Kenyan delegates to be open to new ideas, to learn from the experiences of our Indonesian hosts, the Centres of Excellence in Family Planning and Reproductive Health and to return home as ambassadors of positive change. Together, we can contribute to the well-being and prosperity of our nations.

In closing, I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to all involved and wish our Kenyan delegates a fruitful and inspiring training program. May this event mark the beginning of a stronger bilateral bond between our nations and the path to a healthier and more prosperous future for all.

Thank you, and let us make the most of this opportunity to make a difference in the lives of our people.

Asante sana! Terima kasih! (Thank you in Swahili and Indonesian)