Ministry of Health Celebrates National Health Day
On July 22, 2019, the Ministry of Health celebrated for the third time the National Health Day with the theme “Lori Health ba ema hotu actu moris di'ak ho worthy” (Health for all people for a healthy life with dignity) at the Dili Convention Center.
In his speech, the Vice Minister for Strategic Health Development, Bonifácio Maucoli dos Reis, congratulated the Ministry of Health that despite facing various difficulties managed to make this day so important.
The Vice Minister stressed that July 22 was chosen as National Health Day during the 6th Constitutional Government, as it was the date on which the “Health in the Family” program was launched in 2015, a program that sends medical teams to each household throughout the territory.
The Vice Minister thanked the efforts of the 6th Government led by Rui Maria de Araújo and his government in determining this important day for us, in which every year we celebrate the National Health Day.
To raise the quality of health, the Ministry of Health is supported by staff from the World Health Organization (WHO) in Timor-Leste, GAVI, the vaccine alliance, UNICEF and other Development Partners. With the support of all, a national immunization campaign will be held with the hope of ensuring increased immunization coverage throughout Timor-Leste.
The Vice Minister called on health professionals to work in partnership with the community, because only this way can they ensure the success of the program and achieve the Ministry of Health's vision of ensuring a healthy population, a healthy Timor-Leste.
Bonifácio Maucoli dos Reis also said that the Ministry of Health hopes that the celebration of this date will reinforce the professionalism of health technicians to carry out their mission to our community.
The event also featured a presentation by former Prime Minister and former Minister of Health, Rui Maria de Araújo, on Universal Health Coverage, with the aim of stimulating active participation in health by Timorese society.
The ceremony was also attended by a number of deputies, former members, the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Timor-Leste, the WHO representative in Timor-Leste, representatives of other development partners from across the Ministry's structure. Health, Directors of the Municipal Health Service (SSM), representatives of PNTL, the President of the Dili Municipality Authority and students also participated.
