Dili, March 14, 2025 (Média Democracia) – The National Institute for HIV-AIDS Combat (INCSIDA) is working with the Ministry of Public Administration to raise awareness among the Dili Local Government including Village Heads, Sub-village Heads, Delegates and Post Office Administrators in combating the HIV-AIDS virus in the community.
The aim of this information dissemination is to consolidate joint strength in order to prevent and protect the community from the problem of HIV-AIDS.
On this occasion, INCSIDA President, Daniel Marçal said that all entities must unite to protect the community by disseminating information about the HIV-AIDS virus, because local governments are the closest to the community.
“This is the goal that we must unite to protect our people, friends through the media that conveys our message to everyone, from the State as the owner of all authority, the previous INCSIDA program was very important, because the village and sub-village heads and the people’s representatives are the basis together with the society every day.” Said INCSIDA President, Daniel Marçal
Therefore, INCSIDA President said, Regional Governments need to have the knowledge to identify places that have the potential to become hotbeds of HIV-AIDS transmission.
“So they need to have the knowledge to identify places that are at risk of becoming a hotbed of HIV transmission, people can live together in places that are now places that some people say are targets for HIV disease, because we see in Timor and the world a lot of HIV transmission is through sexual intercourse.” He continued.
As the representative of the Minister of Public Administration, the National Director of Village Administration Support, Celestino Marques, said that the Ministry is committed to providing support to INCSIDA to conduct HIV-AIDS prevention training.
“Previously, it was requested not only in Dili, but also in all municipalities, especially municipality that have been detected as having a high risk of HIV transmission, so that only one preventive measure for this disease can be taken, so that our society, especially the younger generation who are more productive, can prevent the transmission of HIV-AIDS, throughout the Timor-Leste region.” Said the National Director, Celestino Marques
He informed that based on the invitation from INCSIDA to the Ministry of Public Administration and more focused in Dili, this is that make another plan to be disseminated to other municipalities in the region.
“Previously I spoke with the President, then the next plan will also be implemented in all municipalities. Previously has discussed that INCSIDA could submit their letter to the Minister, then the Ministry of Public Administration could submit it to the municipality so that they can cooperate to make preparations so that it can be realized in the municipality,” he said.
On this occasion, the Second Deputy Prime Minister, Coordinating Ministry for Social Affairs and Ministry of Rural Development and Community Settlement, Mariano Assanami Sabino said that today marks the presence in this place on how to be responsible and all entities become agents of information providers, especially local governments, because they are with the community every day.
“Therefore, you all need to understand what kind of disease is serious when it is transmitted to our society, today I am here just to give appreciation and praise to you all for your participation, you all will be a guideline to inform situations like this, because the impact will be very large on our society, this is very important.” He said.
He continued, the most basic sectors are health and education, currently the government is working hard, such as hospitals, clinics, health workers and their systems down to the base.
“The other is preventive health, how we prevent this disease from being transmitted to us through food, behavior, disease, all of which can prevent HIV, therefore village heads, sub-village, delegate must have insight so that they can provide information to the community to avoid this disease,” he added.
He asked the local government to appeal to the public to dare to approach hospitals such as National Hospital and Community Health Centers or Clinics for consultation and treatment so that the activity of the virus does not continue to be in the body of the people, because with the right treatment the virus will certainly decrease.
In addition, this socialization activity was also attended by representatives of the Minister of Public Administration, the Ministry of Health, representatives of the Dili Authority, Post Administrators, Village and Sub-village Heads, delegates, Community Police including OPS and others.
Reported by : Estefania
Picture by : Estefania