DILI, 31 May 2025 (TATOLI) — The Ministry of Health (MoH), together with the World Health Organization (WHO) in Timor-Leste, organized a health march on Saturday to celebrate World No Tobacco Day. The march began at the Ministry of Health premises in Kaikoli and continued to Largo Lesidere.
“This event is an international initiative that includes Timor-Leste. Today, we are conducting this event to raise awareness among our community so that each individual can say no to tobacco,” Nuno da Costa de Jesus, Director of the Licensing and Registration Office said at the Health Authority.
He further explained that many industries produce tobacco to attract consumers into smoking, which is why awareness campaigns are being carried out to educate families and communities about the negative impacts of tobacco on health and the economy.
Similarly, the WHO Representative in Timor-Leste, Arvind Mathur, emphasized that WHO and MoH joined efforts in this health march to build a tobacco-free Timor-Leste.
“It is truly inspiring to see so many young people gathered here today. When shaping a safer, healthier future, young individuals are not just participants in the conversation—they are at the center of it. They are well aware that tobacco claims one life every second,” he explained.
He also stated that tobacco is a leading cause of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory illnesses, and diabetes.
Meanwhile, the health march was attended by directors from HNGV and SNAEM, as well as staff from the Ministry of Health and WHO in Timor-Leste.
Journalist: Felicidade Ximenes
Editor: Xisto Freitas
Translation: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
