Health Stream Recommendations

The Conference heard a comprehensive presentation from the Minister for

Health, Dr Nelson Martins, who used Millennium Development Goals No. 4,
‘Reduce Child Mortality’, No. 5 ‘Reduce Maternal Mortality’, and No. 6 ‘Reduce
the spread of HIV/AIDS, STI’s, Tuberculosis and Malaria’ to discuss Timor-
Lente’s progress in health over the last ten years. Some progress has been
made since Timor-Leste achieved independence, but on many of these goals
there is a long way to go. The Millennium Development Goals provide some
useful markers which can be used to measure success in various areas, but they
will only be achieved with the co-operation of the whole community.

While good policy is important, good health for Timorese is not just the
responsibility of the Health Ministry. It will only be achieved with the participation
of all citizens, educational institutions, civil society, the agricultural system, the
trading system and many other parts of society. Other important factors are:-

• role of the family and community in decision to seek health care

• persistence of various cultural beliefs, attitudes and practices

• how community members assess quality of health care

• influence of ´hearsay´ or other people´s experiences negative and positive

Recommendations to the Government

The media, in particular Radio and Television, could be used more effectively to
promote healthy lifestyles, in particular in fields such as nutrition, hand washing,
breastfeeding, dental health, alcohol and drug dependence (including tobacco
control) traffic safety and occupational health and safety.

Planning, funding and promotion is needed to encourage householders, both

urban and rural, to develop food gardens close to the house which will contribute
to improving family nutrition.

Recommendations on reduction of alcohol abuse

• Clinics and PNTL to keep statistics on numbers of cases attended to
that are alcohol related.
• Laws need to be drafted that regulate alcohol selling and alcohol levels
in locally produced alcohol (tua sabu and tua mutin)
• Civic education campaigns in the community about alcohol
consumption and dangers
• Campaigns against drink driving on Television, introduction of
breathalyzers
• Laws regulating children selling or consuming alcohol
Re-evaluate how Health Promotion is conducted in Timor-Leste, improve adult
education knowledge of Family Health Promoters.

Promote more widely the objectives and methods of SISCa, the integrated
community health service delivery program.

Implement the World Health Organization’s Code of Conduct on the marketing of

breast milk substitutes.

Implement the World Health Organizations’ Framework Convention on Tobacco

Control.

Promote through the education system, better knowledge of sexual and

reproductive health to prevent HIV Aid, and other diseases

Stress the importance of trained birth attendants being at as many deliveries as

possible.