DILI, 17 july 2023 ( TATOLI)– The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Government’s the Ministry of Health ( MoH) launched a five-day training on Community-Based Monitoring in Ermera, Manufahi, and Covalima.
The training was launched by the USAID Mission Director, Zema Semunegus, and Vice Minister of Health for Institutional Strengthening, José Magno, aim to enhance the skills and competencies designed to strengthen their engagement with communities in order to design, implement and monitor interventions to improve adoption of health behaviors.
Participants in the training included Members of Civil Societies and Staff from the Ministry of Health Timor-Leste.
Speaking at the event, USAID Mission Director Zema Semunegus, said USAID’s Health System Sustainability activity work with the Ministry of Health and civil society organizations to promote health behaviors in communities, as well as strengthen advocacy to increase access to and utilization of equitable and quality health care.
“Community-based monitoring is relevant for communities to be empowered to access the information they need, to have their voices heard and their needs addressed. Community participation in health program planning, implementation, and monitoring is key to building ownership, accountability and supporting sustainable community health system strengthening,” said Zema Semunegus to TATOLI in Hotel Timor, Colmera Dili, on monday.
The community-based monitoring is intended to bridge the gap between community and health providers by developing and implementing systems and tools for community inputs for health planning and development: “I take this opportunity to reiterate the U.S. Government commitment to continue to work with the newly appointed Ministry of Health leadership to strengthening the health system with sustainable functioning of health governance and finance, improved health workers ‘ s performance and improved health behavior and civic engagement,”
“We hope that these 5 days of training will help us in implementing the community-based monitoring approach and develop a practical action plan to strengthen the health system and the sustainability of the health interventions,” she concluded.
At the same place, The Vice Minister of Health appreciates the support from USAID that will help to accelerate the health system monitoring in Timor – Leste.
“I thanked the USAID for facilitating the program of community-based monitoring training and also asked the participants to take this opportunity to focus on the training sequence to be implemented in improving the health system in Timor – Leste,” he said.
Meanwhile, USAID implemented Community-Based Monitoring Training in Health in 19 municipalities
The program will take place for five years with a supporting donation from USAID worth $ 15,6 million, this program had implemented from 2022 to 2027 and will be implemented the whole municipalities across the Timor – Leste.
Journalist : Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Nelia B.
