CONTRACEPTIVE injections given to Orang Asli women were aimed at protecting them from pregnancies that were a risk to their health and life, said Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad.

He said the birth control initiative under the ministry was carried out responsibly to protect the indigenous women from conditions such as anaemia during pregnancy.

“It is done as a precautionary measure to protect them. If the red blood cell count is less than 11, we will refer them for medication as it unsafe for them to get pregnant,” he told a press conference after launching the 2019 national-level Orang Asli teeth icon programme organised by the ministry in collaboration with the Orang Asli Development Department (Jakoa) in Sungkai today.

Dr Dzulkefly said the birth control programme was only for two years and those given the injections would be able to conceive after that.

He reiterated that it was done for the safety of the women and the injection was to protect them from an “unsuitable pregnancy”.

Yesterday, it was reported that Health Ministry staff had given contraceptive injections to the Orang Asli women, especially those who had recently married, causing them to have side effects.

Last Tuesday, Orang Asli from five villages in Gerik and Sg Petani were reported to have been at Parliament to urge the government to stop the ministry from giving birth control injections and oral medication to the community. – Bernama, July 11, 2019.