DILI, 03 march 2022 (TATOLI)- Japan and United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF) has agreed to support the Government of Timor-Leste on nutrition programs in 2022-2023.
Japan and UNICEF committed to help improve maternal and infant care in Timor-Leste.
The financial support is focused on improving mal-nutrition, sputum and less weight for infants since consumption to 24 months, teenagers and mothers.
“This support is providing adequate treatment for children suffering from chronic Mal-nutrition. Therefore, this support will reinforce and increase the number of nutrition for the children under 5 years old in this country,” Said in a press release published at the Minister of Health official site and accessed by Tatoli Agency today.
“We are in the process of turning the negative tendency on sputum on mal-nutrition in Timor-Leste. We thanked UNICEF and other partners. It is required for more processes to ensure progress on mal-nutrition and referring to the critical life for children. This intervention must be done before turning two years old. This program is helping children who are affected by Sputum and less heavy can be going to school. Minister of Health Odete, Maria Feitas Belo said.
Related news:Infant and Mother Mortality Rates Drop in Timor-Leste
Thus, premature mortality is especially affected by mal-malnutrition. 47% of children under five are most affected by the mortality rate.
Timor-Leste is recorded the sputum rate is high in the world on global double rate Media. It is also the triple rate in the East region of Asia Pasic.
UNICEF Country Representative Bilal Durrani said 80% of children’s brains develop in two years. It is required for increasing nutrition in the country and will be improving mal-nutrition and reducing the rate of sputum, less weight.
Thus, the improvement measure must be taken on increasing nutrition on maternal infants to reduce the mortality number for infants.
“The government of Japan and UNICEF are cooperating to support the Timor-Leste government to increase nutrition. It is to reduce the sputum, skinny and less weight for infants with age 0-23 months in 2023.
This project will help 11.962 children who are suffering from chronic mal-nutrition. It helps to supplement micronutrients for pregnant women and supplement to 20.000 teenagers and other nutrition supplements.
Ambassador of Japan for Timor-Leste, Masami Kinefuchi said Japan’s government has provided 3 million USD to support the Timor-Leste government to reduce the rate of mal-nutrition in Timor-Leste. This program is cooperating with UNICEF.
According to data from the Minister of Health in 2013 to 2020 shows that the sputum rate decreased from 50,2% to 47,1%. The less heavy reduces from 11% to 8,6%.
The Japanese Government is providing three Millions USD to support the nutrition program in Timor-Leste for the period of 2022-2023.
The specific intervention will be implemented in the Covalima, Lautem, Liquiça, Manufahi and RAEOA Oe-cusse Ambeno.
It is known that the Prime Minister of Taur Matan Ruak, appeals to all multi sectors to consolidate the national action plan to focus on nutrition and food security, especially (CNAP-NFS). It is inviting all partners to achieve the Sustainable Development objective (ODS2) and the objective on Infant Maternal.
Related news:UN agencies announce support for improving child nutrition worldwide
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Rafy Belo
