DILI, 15 august 2023 (TATOLI) – Deputy Prime Minister and Coordinating Minister for Rural Development (DPMCMRD), Mariano Assanami Sabino, and Country Director of the Asian Development Bank (ABD), Stefania Dina, discussed support for clean water supply and malnutrition in Timor-Leste.
“We are talking about a mechanism for providing clean water that meets international standards containing CHO2 molecules that can be consumed by the public including children,” Deputy Prime Minister, Mariano Assanami Sabino told the media at Government Palace Dili.
Assanami explained that clean water will have a health impact, and contribute to reducing malnutrition: “Children consuming clean water will prevent them from diarrhea and live a healthy life,”
Meanwhile, to reduce malnutrition rates, he said, an integrated approach is needed with relevant ministries, especially the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Health.
“The approach is made to increase local production, provide education to the public about various nutritional menus and take full responsibility for protecting pregnant women, babies, and children for a healthy life,” he said.
Likewise, ABD, Country Director, Stefania Dina said ADB is very committed to working with other development partners to provide support to ensure the program will complement each other and will not be duplicated.
“We realize the importance of an integrated solution to the coordination approach plan that can bring together a multispectral approach to take serious interventions for both problems,” She explained
Regarding clean water supply, She also emphasized that ABD shared information about supporting water supply and sanitation through Waste DILI which focused on three municipalities such as Lautem, Manufahi, and Viqueque, and plans to expand to other cities.
“We concluded discussions with the state programming mechanism with the relevant ministries to determine the section lines for implementing the investment program for the coming days. ABD is committed to providing investment support as well as technical support for a USD 50 million water supply project to be implemented in the municipalities of Lautem Lospalos, Manufahi, and Viqueque, at the same time discussing future water supply investments for Ainaro Maliana and Suai.”
Previously in 2022, ABD provided a loan to the government of Timor-Leste for water and sanitation in Dili worth USD 127 million, including USD 1.2 million for technical assistance to Bee Timor-Leste (BTL).
Journalist: José Belarmino De Sá
Editor: Nelia B.
