𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐁𝐕 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐬 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐁𝐕 𝐚𝐭 𝐔𝐦𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐡𝐨𝐧

Dili, 20 September 2024 – The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion, and with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Timor-Leste through the Together for Equality (T4E) Project funded by KOICA, held a national workshop today on the theme: “𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐁𝐕 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 𝐚𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐬 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐮𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐆𝐁𝐕 𝐚𝐭 𝐔𝐦𝐚 𝐌𝐚𝐡𝐨𝐧.”

In her opening speech, Head of Maternal and Child Health Department of MoH, Dra. Lucia M. Barreto Lay, emphasized the challenges faced by survivors of gender-based violence (GBV) and the critical importance of coordination among different service providers within referral network and case management system.

“We all know that survivors of GBV face many challenges in life, including significant impacts on their physical, mental, and emotional health. To ensure they receive the necessary support, a coordinated and survivor-centered approach is essential. The health system, legal services, the Vulnerable Persons Unit (VPU), and the social support network must work together to provide integrated and comprehensive care to ensure protection and continuum of care to survivors of GBV,” she said.

She further highlighted the significance of the workshop, stating, "Today’s workshop demonstrates our shared commitment to ensuring that survivors at Uma Mahon receive holistic and comprehensive care. This coordination is crucial as it not only addresses the urgent health needs but also provides psychosocial support and legal assistance, enabling survivors to regain control over their lives and rebuild their confidence."

UNFPA Officer-in-Charge in Timor-Leste, Dra. Domingas Bernardo, addressed the workshop participants, noting that GBV has become a pressing public health issue. She urged all stakeholders to intensify their efforts in responding to and preventing GBV.

“GBV is a prevalent human rights violation in Timor-Leste. According to the 2016 Timor-Leste Demographic and Health Survey, one-third (38%) of women aged 15-49 have experienced physical and/or sexual violence since the age of 15. This is a serious issue, demanding our collective attention and effort. The health sector plays a vital role, as it is often the first point of contact for women and mothers who are survivors of GBV,” Dra. Domingas said.

The workshop aimed to improve the coordination between health service providers and other service providers from the referral networks to ensure that survivors at Uma Mahon receive comprehensive and timely care. It also sought to strengthen collaboration among key stakeholders, including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Social Solidarity and Inclusion (MSSI), the VPU, Uma Mahon, and Community Health Centers.