More than 50% of Timorese children aged five and under suffer from malnutrition, according to 2013 data released by the Ministry of Health.
Executive Director of Together We Help Each Other (HIAM) Health organization, Rosaria Martins da Cruz, said the high rates of malnutrition was due to a lack of knowledge about food and nutrition.
Other factors also include culture, tradition, access to clean water and family income. "It means that half of Timorese children suffer from malnutrition and it is a big problem that should take priority," said da Cruz at the USAID office in Farol, Dili.
Education was key to combating malnutrition in Timor-Leste, she said, as this would help communities to better understand how to balance their diet and protect their health.
Nutritionist Heather Grieve also said it was important to invest in nutrition programs as this had the biggest impact on children's physical and intellectual growth. She said stunted or underweight children were more likely to experience learning difficulties later in life and were also more susceptible to infections and disease.
Research on food and nutrition in Timor-Leste showed that malnutrition rates for children stood at 50.2% in 2013, an almost 8% decrease compared to a 2010 Demographic and Health Survey, which put the rates at 58%.
However, National Director of Public Health Pedro Canisio described the decrease as insignificant and that reducing malnutrition rates remained a major priority for the ministry.
He said poor nutrition was linked to multiple factors, including poor education, food insecurity and lack of access to clean water and therefore required a multi-ministry response.
"Nowadays we have a Vitamin A and combantrim distribution program for children aged five years and under to help them avoid micronutrient deficiencies," he said. The ministry also distributes food supplements such as corn flour to pregnant women and breastfeeding mothers to help combat malnutrition.
Meanwhile, the US embassy's deputy chief of mission, Katherine Dueholm, said her government remained committed to helping Timor-Leste reduce malnutrition rates through improvements in the agricultural sector.
The US government has allocated $90.2 million through the advanced agriculture program to provide training to local farmers on modern agricultural practices.
"We support the agriculture sector through the advanced agriculture program, which provides technical support to farmers in increasing the country's production," she said.