DILI, 16 april 2024 (TATOLI) – The Ministry of Health (MoH) wanted to implement the Good Samaritan Law in Timor-Leste, allowing other people to help those who were believed to be injured or ill in emergency situations.
MoH Director General of Health Services, Terlinda da Conceição Barros, said that MoH had held a seminar on the law, saying it was necessary to introduce the law in the country.
“When someone sees another person have an accident in the street, they should rush to help as quickly as possible, according to their knowledge of first aid,” said Barros.
She said the introduction of the Good Samaritan law will offer legal protection to people who give reasonable assistance to those who are, or whom they believe to be injured, ill, in peril, or otherwise incapacitated.
“If Timor-Leste does not introduce the Good Samaritan Law, then people who help others will not be protected in providing first aid,” Barros said.
She said that many countries have already implemented the law whereby citizens can provide first aid to people who have suffered a heart attack, accidents, etc.
Barros said that as soon as the law is introduced and implemented in the country, all citizens are encouraged to have basic first aid knowledge so that they can provide first aid support to people.
“We’re going to provide basic first aid training to firefighters, members of the community, and students, in order to help them acquire basic first aid knowledge,” she said.
Barros added that the Ministry of Health will be responsible for drafting the law, which will be presented to the Council of Ministers for approval.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
