Dili, July 25, 2026 ( Media Democracia) – On Thursday, the National Institute to Combat HIV/AIDS (INCSIDA), together with the State Secretariat for Vocational Training and Employment (SEFOPE), held an awareness session on HIV-AIDS transmission prevention for Timorese workers who will go to work in Australia.
INCSIDA President, Daniel Marçal, said that this awareness activity was carried out based on coordination between SEFOPE and the agencies responsible for the recruitment process of workers to go abroad. He explained that this training is very important to give workers knowledge about the risks of HIV-AIDS and how to prevent the disease.
“This awareness session today was held because of coordination between SEFOPE and the agencies responsible for workers going to work abroad. Information about HIV and AIDS is very important for them, because it can reduce risks to their health and lives. Based on past experience, there were some workers who left in good health, but when they returned, they brought back the disease because they didn’t have enough information and didn’t live healthily while abroad. The money they earn from their work should be used to improve their lives and support their families, not to start health problems that in the end can cause suffering for themselves and their families.” said Daniel Marçal to journalists at Hotel Garden Beach, Pantai Kelapa, Dili, on Thursday (24/07).
He added that, from SEFOPE and the agencies’ side, HIV-AIDS prevention awareness is very important and needs to be done regularly to prepare Timorese workers before they go to work abroad.
“From SEFOPE and the agencies, we consider this awareness program very important and it must be carried out continuously. Sexual activity cannot be fully controlled, but we can control behaviors that can prevent HIV transmission. The HIV virus is transmitted through blood, unsterilized sharp instruments, and unprotected sexual intercourse. That’s why education and information are important so people can keep themselves away from these risks. Nowadays there are many places that facilitate sexual activity, both in the capital and in the municipalities, so each person must have the responsibility to protect themselves.” he said.
Daniel Marçal also stated that the awareness efforts carried out so far are starting to show positive results, because now more people are voluntarily getting tested for HIV compared to before.
“The efforts we have made over the past years are starting to show results. Now many people want to get tested for HIV, unlike before when many people were afraid to get tested. When a person is detected with HIV early, health authorities can intervene and provide treatment with antiretroviral drugs (ARV), so that the person can live long and in good health. This result comes from the joint efforts of the government, INCSIDA, the media, and all partners.” said Daniel Marçal.
On the other hand, the Coordinator of the Pre-Departure Briefing (PDB), Agostinho Maia, said that HIV-AIDS prevention awareness is very important for Timorese workers who will go to work in Australia. Because of this, SEFOPE plans to establish formal cooperation with INCSIDA so that this awareness program can be held regularly.
“Because this program is very important, today I already spoke with the President of INCSIDA about the need to make a cooperation agreement. We have also coordinated with the director so that going forward we can prepare a specific schedule, so that INCSIDA technicians or representatives can come to participate in the training and share important information with Timorese workers before they go to work abroad.” said Agostinho Maia.
He added that the main objective of this program is to prepare workers with knowledge about HIV-AIDS prevention and other transmissible diseases while they are living and working in Australia, so that when they return to Timor-Leste they are still in good health.
“This program focuses on giving workers knowledge about how to prevent HIV and AIDS while they work in Australia, so that when they return to Timor-Leste they don’t bring the disease back. In Australia, the health system and health control mechanisms are also very good.” he said.
Agostinho Maia also added that SEFOPE will continue to strengthen its partnership with INCSIDA to conduct outreach to Timorese worker candidates before they travel abroad. He said that so far there is no data on worker candidates who are infected with HIV, and if identification or follow-up is needed, INCSIDA will do it according to the prevailing health procedures.
Meanwhile, one participant from the Timorese workers who will go to work in Australia, Holmes Guterres, said that the training and awareness he attended was very important because it increased his knowledge about how to prevent and protect himself from HIV and AIDS.
“The training I attended today is very important because it gives knowledge and experience on how to prevent and protect ourselves from falling into HIV and AIDS.” said Holmes Guterres.
He added that, with the number of HIV-AIDS cases increasing in Timor-Leste, awareness sessions like this are even more important to raise knowledge and awareness among youth and workers who will go to work abroad.
“Now we see that HIV and AIDS cases in Timor-Leste are increasing. Because of this, the information and guidance that the President of INCSIDA shared with us is very important so we can protect ourselves and not fall into this disease. This training also brings great benefits to young people.” he said.
In this awareness activity, more than one hundred Timorese workers who will go to work in Australia participated.
Report By: Neliá
Photo: Neliá