DILI, 01 june 2023 (TATOLI) – The Minister of Health, Odete Belo has been awarded the prestigious WHO Director-General Special Award on World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) in recognition of her accomplishments of tobacco control in Timor-Leste.
The award was accepted by Maria de Lourdes, the Permanent Representative of Timor-Leste to the United Nations Office in Geneva, on behalf of Minister Belo.
The other two winners included Reina Roa Rodríguez, the Focal Point for Tobacco Control of the Ministry of Health of Panama, and Ali Mrabet, the Minister of Health, of Tunisia.
On the occasion of World No Tobacco Day, the WHO Representative in Timor-Leste, Arvind Mathur, congratulated Minister Belo for winning the award.
“Our heartiest congratulations to Minister Belo. I would like to highlight Minister Belo’s remarkable achievements and tireless efforts in the fight against tobacco addiction,” Mathur said. “On behalf of WHO, my felicitations and congratulations to Minister Belo and the Ministry of Health for this remarkable achievement.”
With support from WHO, the Ministry of Health, under the leadership of Minister Belo, has established five tobacco cessation centers in five municipalities – Dili, Ermera, Liquica, Ainaro, and Oe-Cusse. These centers have helped thousands of Timorese quit tobacco use.
With the work of the Health Ministry, Timor-Leste increased the excise tax on tobacco from US$50/kg in 2022 to US$100/kg in 2023.
Minister Belo thanked WHO for the award: “On behalf of the Ministry of Health and all parties who have worked tirelessly in the fight against tobacco addiction and tobacco control, I thank WHO for this prestigious award. This award means a lot to us, especially in recognition of what we have done so far in relation to tobacco control in the country.”
She said the award is not only a prize but an enormous responsibility for Timor-Leste to continue to fight against tobacco consumption in the country.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
