Government of Timor-Leste, the Japanese Government and UNICEF join hands to improve health of adolescent girls

Dili, 8th September 2023 – In Timor-Leste 32 percent of girls 14-19 years suffer from anemia, triggered mostly because of the physiological and emotional changes of their bodies, which require additional nutrients. 
 In a joint move to enhance the health and wellbeing of adolescent girls in Timor-Leste, the Government of Timor-Leste today received 8.000.000 Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) tablets, from the Government of Japan in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund, (UNICEF). 

Ninety-five thousand (95,000) adolescent girls from Covalima, Lautem, Liquica and Manufahi municipalities and RAEOA will freely access these supplements through the schools and through community outreach sessions undertaken by the Mother Support Group Members. The aim being to provide adolescent girls with vital nutritional support to prevent iron deficiency anemia and its long-term health consequences.

Adolescent nutrition is a critical component of public health and addressing iron deficiency anemia among adolescent girls is a priority for Timor-Leste.

Anemia among adolescents’ leads to poor school performance, reduced attention span, memory loss and increased school drop-out rate. Anemia also leads to reduced immunity and increased infection rate. Iron and Folic Acid supplementation is a proven strategy to combat this widespread health concern and ensure that young girls receive the essential nutrients they need for healthy growth and development.

José dos Reis Magno, Vice Minister for Institutional Strengthening in Health, Ministry of Health, Timor-Leste: "We are immensely grateful for the support from UNICEF and the Government of Japan in our efforts to enhance adolescent nutrition among adolescent girls. This initiative exemplifies the power of partnerships in addressing critical health challenges."

"Japan has been working with the Government of Timor-Leste on maternal and child health for many years. This is because we believe that human resource development is one of the most important targets for a nation and improvement of the nutritional status would be the foundation of any human being, " said Tetsuya KIMURA, Ambassador of Japan to Timor-Leste.

“Today’s event represents our collective commitment to long-term investments in the health, nutrition, and future of our adolescent girls by protecting them against all forms of malnutrition. UNICEF is honored to stand alongside our partners in this shared journey towards improved nutrition and well-being for all,” said UNICEF Country Representative, Bilal Aurang Zeb Durrani.

The handover of IFA supplies is a part of the project “Specific Nutrition Intervention Package to Address Maternal, Child and Adolescent Undernutrition in Timor-Leste”, implemented by the Ministry of Health and UNICEF and entirely funded by the people of Japan.

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Governu Timor-Leste, Governu Japaun no UNICEF hamutuk atu hadi'a labarik-feto adolexente sira-nia saúde.
 

Dili, 8 Setembru 2023 - Iha Timor-Leste 32 pursentu husi labarik-feto sira iha tinan 14-19 sofre anemia, ne'ebé mosu tanba mudansa fíziku no emosionál iha sira-nia isin, ne'ebé presiza nutrisaun adisionál.

Iha mudansa konjunta ida atu hasa'e labarik-feto adolexente sira-nia saúde no moris-di'ak iha Timor-Leste, Governu Timor-Leste ohin simu tablet ida husi Governu Japaun ho Fundu Nasoins Unidas ba Labarik.

Labarik-feto adolexente rihun ruanulu-resin-rua (95.000) husi munisípiu Covalima, Lautem, Liquica no Manufahi no RAEOA sei asesu ho livre ba suplementu hirak-ne'e liuhusi eskola sira no liuhusi sesaun informasaun komunitária ne'ebé hala'o husi Membru Grupu Apoiu Inan sira. Objetivu mak atu fó apoiu nutrisaun importante ba labarik-feto adolexente sira atu prevene anemia defisiénsia besi no konsekuénsia saúde ba tempu naruk.  

Nutrisaun adolexente nu'udar komponente importante ida husi saúde publika no hasoru anemia defisiénsia besi entre labarik-feto adolexente sira nu'udar prioridade ida ba Timor-Leste.  

Anemia entre adolexente sira hamosu dezempeñu eskola ne'ebé fraku, redusaun ba espasu atensaun, lakon memória no aumentu iha taxa drop-out eskola. Anemia mós bele hamenus imunidade no hasa'e taxa infesaun. Suplementasaun besi no asidu foliku nu'udar estratéjia ida-ne'ebé provadu atu kombate preokupasaun saúde ne'ebé luan no asegura katak labarik-feto sira simu nutrisaun esensiál sira ne'ebé sira presiza ba kresimentu no dezenvolvimentu saudavel.  

José dos Reis Magno, Vice Minister for Institutional Strengthening in Health, Ministeriu Saude, Timor-Leste: "Agradese tebes ba apoiu husi UNICEF no Governu Japaun iha ita-nia esforsu atu hasa'e nutrisaun adolexente entre labarik-feto adolexente sira. Inisiativa ida-ne'e ezemplu kona-ba kbiit parseria nian hodi rezolve dezafiu saúde nian ne'ebé importante."

"Japaun servisu hamutuk ho Governu Timor-Leste kona-ba saúde inan no oan durante tinan barak ona. Ida-ne'e tanba ami fiar katak dezenvolvimentu rekursu umanu nu'udar objetivu ida-ne'ebé importante liu ba nasaun ida no hadi'a estatutu nutrisaun sei sai hanesan baze ba ema ida-idak, " dehan Tetusia KIMURA, Embaixador Japaun nian ba Timor-Leste.  

"Eventu ohin reprezenta ita-nia kompromisu koletivu ba investimentu ba tempu naruk iha ita-nia labarik-feto adolexente sira-nia saúde, nutrisaun no futuru hodi proteje sira hasoru malnutrisaun oioin. UNICEF sente onra tebes atu hamriik hamutuk ho ami-nia parseiru sira iha viajen ida-ne'e atu hadi'a nutrisaun no moris-di'ak ba ema hotu," dehan Reprezentante Nasional UNICEF, Bilal Aurang Zeb Durrani.  

Entrega fornesimentu IFA nian hanesan parte ida husi projetu "Pakote Intervensaun Espesifiku Nutrisaun nian atu responde ba subnutrisaun inan, labarik no adolexente iha Timor-Leste," implementa husi Ministeriu Saude no UNICEF no hetan finansiamentu tomak husi povu Japaun.
 

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Ba informasaun detallu, bele kontaktu:
• Ministry of Health Contact Information, Carinton Salazar, Ofisial Midia, Ministeriu Saúde-+670 77903355
• Kazumi Yamada, Deputy Head of Mission/Head of Development Cooperation Mobile Number- +670 77231121; Email: kazumi.yamada@mofa.go.jp 
• Tapuwa Mutseyekwa, UNICEF Advocacy and Communication Specialist, Mobile number - +670 77231103; Email:tmutseyekwa@unicef.org  
• Antonio Gomes, UNICEF Communications Officer, Mobile number - +670 77232441; Email:angomez@unicef.org