Monday, April 21, 2008
First Lady Appreciates Indonesian Women`s Progress
Source: Antara News

Jakarta (ANTARA News) - First Lady Ani Yudhoyono expressed appreciation for the progress Indonesian women have made over time as shown by their present ability to occupy all sorts of positions in the professions and in the executive, legislative and juidicial branches of government.

The first lady spoke about Indonesian women`s progress in her speech marking the launching of an early cancer detection program at the Dharmais Hospital here on Monday.

The function coincided with the observance of the birthday of Kartini, an Indonesian woman who lived in pre-independence days who is nationally regarded as the pioneer of Indonesian women`s emancipation.

Mrs Yudhoyono mentioned the names of four female cabinet ministers as examples of Indonesian women holding jobs in the executive branch of government but had special praise for Health Minister Siti Fadilah Supari who, she said, was working tirelessly and without letup to improve public health services in the country.

"Doctor Siti Fadilah Supari deserves to be called a modern-day Kartini," she said.

The three other women in the present United Indonesia Cabinet were Finance Minister Sri Mulyani, State Minister for Women`s Empowerment Meutia Hatta and Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu.

The program to be carried out by the Health Ministry calls for the introduction of a new method to detect breast and cervical cancer at an early stage, called Visual Inspection with Acetate Acid (IVA).

Application of the method would cost only Rp5,000 per patient and was very quick and simple so it would be affordable by women in remote regions.

The first lady also commended the Health Ministry for having made an "innovative breaktrhough" in inventing the new method that was quick and inexpensive.

"I hope the new method will be more practical and effective in saving Indonesian women across the country from breast and cervical cancer," Ani Yudhoyono said.