DILI, 29 november 2022 (TATOLI) – The Executive Director of the Non-Governmental Organization Estrela+, Inês Lopes urged the Ministry of Health to allocate a budget to fight communicable diseases in the country.
“The Global Fund has made a fund available to the Ministry of Health for malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS programs. Government should also allocate a budget to fight these communicable diseases. My concern is if the Global Fund ends its support, then what would the situation be?” Lopes told TATOLI, in Dili.
She said the government must at least allocate 20% of its 2022 Budget for the prevention and combat of communicable diseases.
Lopes expressed her concerns as Timor-Leste continue to register an increase in the number of hepatitis B cases: “It is important to test pregnant women so that the possibility of transmission of contagious diseases to their children can be prevented early,” she warned.
He added, in fact, that a health center in Manatuto municipality does not carry out screening for hepatitis B and C and other communicable diseases: “This is one of the examples in which communicable diseases could be transmitted to children.”
“Hepatitis is a transmissible disease and therefore needs to be diagnosed. Parents should also undergo hepatitis testing,” Lopes added.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
