Despite the major developments within the health sector in Timor-Leste, and in the Special Administrative Region (SAR) of Oecusse, much is left to be done.

The UNFPA Timor-Leste country office went on a scoping mission to the SAR Oecusse to provide support to the health sector, especially for planning interventions to improve the maternal and sexual reproductive health of the region. The meeting was attended by the secretary of health of the SAR of Oecusse, the management of the referral hospital, and health care providers from all health facilities in Oecusse.

On the first day, UNFPA presented the municipal statistical profile of the SAR of Oecusse developed from the 2015 Housing and Population Census, and the 2016 Demographic Health Survey (DHS), to provide a sound background for effective programming. Furthermore, UNFPA held a courtesy meeting with the President of the regional authority of the SAR discussing joint support to improve maternal and sexual reproductive health programs in the region.   

Additionally, presentations and discussions were held on the following topics: Emergency Obstetrics and Neo-natal Care (EMONC), Family Planning, Maternal Death Surveillance Response (MDSR), Youth programs, HIV/AIDS, and Gender Based Violence.

On the second day, a planning exercise was conducted involving relevant health care providers from all health facilities in Oecusse. This excercise will contribute to the improvement of the quality of the maternal and sexual reproductive health care in the SAR of Oecusse.

UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. Our mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.