Paulina Quintao – The recent spread of HIV/AIDS poses a big threat to the entire population of Timor-Leste. Member of National Parliament Ilda Maria da Conceicao called on the government to take serious action help prevent the spread of the violence.

De Conceicao said the number of patients registered as suffering from HIV/AIDS indicated there were many sufferers who have not received any treatment in health facilities.

"It's a serious problem because we are a small nation with populationof just more than a million. If we do not take a serious action, in 20 years, a generation of Timorese could die," said the MP in National Parliament.

The MP called upon the Ministry of Health to coordinate with civil societies to spread information about the prevention of the disease to communities.

The same concern was raised by MP Francisco Miranda Branco. "I think it needs to look into because the number of HIV/AIDS case in the country keeps increasing every year," said MP Branco.

Data gathered by the Ministry of Health shows that from 2003 to 2013, 355 suffered from HIV/AIDS. Of this number, 39 people died, 129 people are receiving treatment and the remainder are not receiving treatment.