The Vice Minister of Health, Ana Isabel Soares, signed a cooperation agreement on the integrated nutrition programme with the Ambassador of the European Union, Alexandre Leitão. The ceremony was held in the hall of the Ministry of Health, in Caicoli, Dili, on January 20th.
The Minister informed that this is already the second European Union support to the budget of the Ministry of Health. This funding was carried out through UNICEF and WFP. It is intended to develop programmes defined by the Ministry itself or in conjunction with those two UN partners, technically supporting the Government of Timor-Leste, namely in Public Health, with funds received from the European Union.
Ana Isabel Soares highlighted that the Embassy of the European Union handed over €1.32 million to UNICEF and €720,000 to WFP. This money is intended to assist the Government in reducing malnutrition among children under five years of age, pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers, throughout the territory of Timor-Leste.
The Vice Minister recalled that children are the future of the nation and it is necessary to take into account the priorities in each area of national life, because Timor-Leste is in the development process where all areas have their priorities, which also happens with the Ministry of Health.
She also informed that the statistical studies on malnutrition conducted in our country show that we need to reverse the current situation, so that children can grow up healthy and perform will in their studies in the future, thus contributing to the development of Timor-Leste.