New Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care Centre Strengthens Maternal Health Services in Atsabe
The Minister of Health, Élia A. A. dos Reis Amaral, inaugurated, on August 31st, 2026, the new Basic Emergency Obstetric and Neonatal Care Centre (KEmON-B) in the Administrative Post of Atsabe, Ermera Municipality, aimed at strengthening access for pregnant women and newborns to emergency care and safe delivery services closer to their communities.
The improvement of the facilities resulted from collaboration between the Ministry of Health and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), with funding from the Government of Japan, and will enable the provision of the medical and non-medical equipment necessary to deliver emergency obstetric and neonatal care, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The Centre is expected to serve approximately 17,000 women of reproductive age in the Atsabe Administrative Post and provide services to around 800 pregnant women each year.
Health professionals received specific training in emergency obstetric and neonatal care, including responses to obstetric complications such as pre-eclampsia and haemorrhage, and in neonatal resuscitation procedures.
At the inauguration ceremony, the Minister of Health said, “Today’s inauguration marks an important commitment to protecting the lives and dignity of women and babies, and to ensuring that families and communities in Atsabe have access to quality care at the right time and with dignity, closer to their homes.”
“By inaugurating this centre, we reaffirm our responsibility to ensure it operates to appropriate standards, has the necessary health professionals, equipment, and medical supplies, and is integrated into the health system,” she added.
The Minister of Health thanked the Government of Japan for its support in strengthening the national health system and highlighted collaboration with partners to improve maternal and neonatal health services.
“Together, we are strengthening primary healthcare and services for mothers and newborns in the places where they are needed most,” she said.
The Ministry of Health will ensure support for the supervision and continuous training of professionals, the supply of essential medicines and medical materials, and the operation of the referral and communication systems necessary for service delivery.
The Minister also thanked the health professionals and staff at the Atsabe Community Health Centre and highlighted the role of local authorities and community representatives in the use and maintenance of the new facilities.
The inauguration was attended by the Ambassador of Japan to Timor-Leste, Yamamoto Yasushi; the United Nations Resident Coordinator, Funmi Balogun; the UNFPA Representative, Navchaa Suren; the Directors-General and National Directors of the Ministry of Health; representatives of the National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL); local authorities; members of religious congregations; health professionals; and community representatives.
The opening of the Atsabe Centre strengthens local capacity to respond to obstetric and neonatal emergencies. It reduces the need to travel to more distant health facilities when immediate assistance is required.
