Dili, February 18, 2025 (Média Democracia) – The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is holding a National Consultation to review UNFPA’s five-year strategic plan starting from 2025 to 2030.
In an interview with UNFPA representative in Timor-Leste, Navchaa Suren said that UNFPA has been supporting the government for many years through these supports to improve sexual and reproductive health services.
“The support provided by UNFPA is always in line with government priorities, the government’s priorities faced are what is in line with this support, therefore in the next five years it will continue what has been done so far, especially focusing more on maternal and infant mortality, but more in rural areas.” Said the UNFPA representative.
UNFPA representative informed that they will continue to support the government to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates in Timor-Leste.
“During pregnancy, women must visit health facilities at least four times and when giving birth, they must receive good health facilities and services from health workers,” She said.
UNFPA’s main priority in providing support is to reduce maternal and infant mortality in Timor-Leste, but also support in family planning, the government now uses the term family planning in rural areas, so from an example, one in four women want to access family planning services, but cannot, and one in three women experience gender-based violence.
She said it was UNFPA’s great work to continue supporting the Timor-Leste government in responding to this problem.
“Therefore, in the next five-year plan, discuss early with partners about the work that has been going on for the last four-five years, to see what needs to be improved and what needs to be continuously improved in sexual and reproductive health services,” She added.
She informed that previously UNFPA together with the Ministry of Health had established 8 shelters in Timor Leste.
“UNFPA in the future will continue to compromise with the capacity of health workers on duty there to ensure that the 8 safe places are functioning, so that health workers can serve our friends who experience gender-based violence, but what is very important is to work together with the Director when receiving victims in safe places, therefore UNFPA is working together with MSSI, because the Ministry of Health is the owner of the referral network.” She added.
The major achievement of last year’s strategic plan was that the government showed a big commitment, investing in family planning services. Previously, UNFPA was the one who covered it, but the government made a commitment that the government itself would purchase OJE with 1.2 million USD allocated by the government to purchase these products.
She further explained that the achievements made by UNFPA were the existence of emergency care centers in all municipalities, including in Dili.
Reported by : Estefania
Picture by : Estefania