Government Launches National Awareness Campaign for Nutrition and Healthy Eating
The Vice Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs, Mariano Assanami Sabino, representing Prime Minister Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, officially launched the National Nutrition Week Campaign at a ceremony held on May 6th, 2025, at the Laline Lariguto Hall of the National Election Commission (CNE) in Dili. The initiative aims to promote better nutrition in Timor-Leste, emphasising healthy eating as a key factor for child growth, family well-being, and the sustainable development of the country. 
Under the slogan “Han Ai-han Nutritivu, Moris Saudável” (“Eat Nutritious Food, Live Healthy”), the campaign will feature monthly awareness-raising activities throughout the country, involving schools, health centres, local communities, and religious institutions. 
In his speech, Vice Prime Minister Mariano Assanami Sabino reaffirmed the Government's “strong commitment to nutrition” and stated: “Investing in our children is investing in the future. We reap what we sow, and we eat what we produce. It is local foods that will give us healthier bodies”. 
He added that “together, we can ensure that no child is left behind, that all families have access to nutritious food, and that Timor-Leste moves towards a more prosperous future”.
In her speech, the Minister of Health emphasised that “nutrition is not just about eating — it is also about knowing how to choose nutritious foods, ensuring the right quantity and quality for good health and a promising future”. She also warned of the persistence of problems such as underweight, extreme thinness, and stunted growth in children, as well as the rise in diseases associated with poor nutrition, including hypertension, diabetes, and obesity. 
The campaign includes an educational and interactive component, featuring exhibitions organised by the National Directorate for Education and Health Promotion, distribution of informational materials, and initiatives under the Integrated Health Programme, coordinated by the Ministry of Health in partnership with United Nations agencies. In March this year, the Government also presented a Multisectoral Action Plan for Nutrition, with targets aimed at reducing child stunting to 25% by 2030, focusing particularly on newborns, children up to 23 months, and women of reproductive age. 
“Nutrition is the foundation of a healthy nation. Without good nutrition, our children cannot grow, our students cannot learn, our workers cannot be productive, and our elderly cannot live with vitality”, concluded the Minister of Health, expressing her hope that the campaign messages will reach all Timorese families. 
The ceremony was also attended by Jacinto Rigoberto Gomes, the Vice Minister of State Administration, Arvind Mathur, the Representative of the World Health Organisation, and representatives from development partners and the Ministry of Health. 
