Dili, June 19, 2026 (Media Democracia) – Ministry of Health together with UNICEF hold first meeting to establish Water Quality Working Group in Timor-Leste. This meeting is the initial step for coordination between relevant parties to ensure clean and safe water for the population, especially for children and women in rural and urban areas.
According to the Head of the Vector Control and Environmental Health Department (DCVSA), Elizario Soares Lopes, the meeting was about the progress of work that each ministry line has already done, to report back on progress over the past three to four months in each ministry’s role regarding clean water.
“The idea is control so that the water source system, all the way to consumers, is based on World Health Organization (WHO) standards. That we must also identify the water sources that go to distribution for our communities to use. We guarantee water quality for the entire population in Timor-Leste so they don’t get daily diarrheal diseases and other illnesses related to water contamination.” said Elizario Lopes to journalists at the Kofi Anan Hall, UN Residence, Caicoli today (18/06).
Head of Department Elizario Lopes affirmed that the group was established to discuss work tasks, including the Ministry of Health’s role in ensuring public health for all communities in the country.
“To establish this group is about how we talk about work tasks for each ministry line, as we know the role and responsibility of the Ministry of Health is how to ensure our public health for everyone. The Director General spoke about science-based sanitation and hygiene, and about the well-being of all people in Timor-Leste.” he stated.
At the same venue, UNICEF Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Section Chief, Yume Yorita, explained that healthy water means drinking safe water that can give life to children.
“Safe and reliable drinking water is fundamental for public health, child survival, and sustainable development. While Timor-Leste has made very good progress in expanding access to water services, ensuring that this water is safe and of good quality remains a critical challenge.” said Yume.
The UNICEF Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Section Chief added that as everyone knows, there is still no published data on the country’s water quality status.
Therefore, the establishment of the Water Quality Working Group shows a joint commitment to coordinated, evidence-based, and multisectoral action to bring key stakeholders together on one platform, to strengthen monitoring systems, harmonize standards and approaches, and ensure that data effectively informs policy and practice.
Reporting: Trainees Novita and Baquita Marcal
Photo: Trainee Baquita