DILI, 24 july 2024 (TATOLI) – In celebration of the 9th National Health Day, a two-day Health Exhibition filled the Presidential Palace with activity last week, drawing hundreds of people from across Dili. Co-organized by the Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization (WHO), the event showcased the country’s achievements and progress in health since independence.
The exhibition, held from july 19 to July 20, was attended by Prime Minister Xanana Gusmao, WHO representative, Arvind Mathur, government members, development partners, health workers, and the community. The highlight of the expo was 15 interactive health stalls that raised awareness and offered testing services.
The main focuses were non-communicable and communicable diseases, maternal and child health, nutrition and food security, climate change, school health, immunization, and the health system. Information disseminated included the timeline of disease eliminations from 2002 to date, such as polio, maternal and neonatal tetanus.
“The exhibition was themed around priorities such as non-communicable diseases (NCDs), mental health, and climate change. The idea was to demonstrate the dedication of leadership and health personnel in ensuring all Timorese are healthy,” said Mathur.
One of the most visited stalls was the maternal and child health stall, where young couples and mothers flocked for counseling, information, and ultrasound services. Another popular draw was the nutrition booth managed by Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosa’e (UNTL) students, who demonstrated cooking healthy local food. A Mother Support Group showed visitors how to prepare healthy food for babies and offered counseling on healthy diets.
Health system stall, which included the blood transfusion bank from HNGV, and the skills simulation centre with mannequins attracted medical students. The blood bank provided blood type testing, leading to long lines and an extension of the exhibition by two hours on the last day.
The non-communicable diseases stall saw significant traffic, offering checks on blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and Body Mass Index (BMI). The infectious diseases stall attracted young people eager to learn about transmissible diseases such as HIV and STIs. Additionally, oral health and eye care stalls provided consultations and distributed glasses, with continuous traffic throughout the event.
Apart from the stalls, a TB screening van was present at the exhibition site, screening people at the Presidential Palace. The Emergency team also had a presence where they gave information about ambulance work in Timor-Leste and demonstrated how to perform CPR and handle traffic accident victims.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
