In Timor-Leste less than half the expressed need for family planning among married couples is being met. Among the estimated 9,000 married women less than 25 years of age, who have expressed a desire to space or limit their future births, seven out of ten, 70%, (6,500 women) have an unmet need for family planning-the highest rate in the Asia Pacific region. To respond to this unmet need, the Institute Nacional De Saude (INS), Ministry of Health, is developing a cadre of master trainers to train front-line health workers and expand individuals and couples access to family planning counselling and services.

UNFPA and Health Alliance International (HAI) recently supported a training of trainers (ToT) by INS for 19 health providers from the Ministry of Health, HAI, HADIAK and Marie Stopes International (MSI). The ToT, was supported by five master trainers from Indonesia, 3  from Jaringan Nasional Pelatihan Klinis (JNPK) and 2 from  Badan Pengembangan dan Pemberdayaan SDM Kesehatan, Jakarta (BPPSDM) (Indonesia).  The trainers completed their first batch of training this week for 23 front-line workers from 12 districts.

Family planning services constitute a basic right of choice for women and signify their ability and willingness to plan their futures more carefully. When a woman is able to plan her pregnancies, she makes life decisions more effectively and guarantees empowerment of herself and her family.

"It's Your Life, It's Your Future, Know Your Options."

UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled.

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