DILI, 20 june 2022 (TATOLI) – The Country Representative of the World Bank in Timor-Leste, Bernard Harborne pledged to support the Government of Timor-Leste to combat malnutrition and stunting among children in the Timor-Leste.
“We talked about the poor situation of children of which half of them are malnourished and stunted and that’s the key priority of President Horta and also the key priority of the World Bank,” Harborne made the comments after meeting President Horta at the Palace of the President, today.
According to Timor-Leste Food and Nutrition Survey, conducted in 2020, 47.1% of Timorese children are stunted.
In its Consolidated National Action Plan for Nutrition and Food Security (CNAP), the Government has set the goal to reduce stunting by 22% (from 47% to 25%) by 2030.
He said at the moment, World Bank is providing technical support to the government of Timor-Leste to work out precisely how much money is required from the government budget to support children: “We are having a dialogue with the government about potentially the World Bank providing support in combating malnutrition and stunting.”
Earlier this month, the President of the Republic, in his speech at the Timor-Leste Development Partners Meeting (TLDPM), proposed two practical steps to be considered by the Government of Timor-Leste to combat child nutrition in the country – Increase Nutrition Budget and Establish Nutrition Directorate in the Ministry of Health (MoH).
Last month, the Ministry of Health (MoH), together with the development partners and the United Nations Agencies in Timor-Leste, launched the National Health Sector Nutrition Strategic Plan for 2022-2026 to combat malnutrition, especially stunting in Timorese children.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
