Paulina Quintao – The Mother's Support Group (GSI) program implemented by the Alola Foundation has been recognized by the Health Ministry for its efforts to reduce maternal and child mortality in Timor-Leste.
Health Program Manager Maria Imaculada Guterres said based on 2013 national research conducted on food and nutrition the program had been successful in improving child and maternal health at a grassroots level.
"The Ministry of Health, with funds from UNICEF, wants Alola Foundation to nationalize this program across the whole country," she said in Comoro, Dili. Guterres said the foundation was happy with the recognition received from the government and is making plans to implement it at a national.
In preparation, she said the Health Ministry and Alola had developed national guidelines for the program and had provided training to health personnel in the municipalities and at suku (village) level.
"The training is about nutrition, maternal and child health and other diseases like malaria and dengue, including the immunization program," she said.
She said the program was initially established in 2003 by communities on a voluntary basis, with the aim of raising awareness among families in the sukus and educating mothers on the importance of breastfeeding.
She said at the time there was a lack of awareness about health issues and therefore maternal and child mortality rates were high. Since 2003, 138 groups have been established in 11 municipalities, with more than 2000 members.
Meanwhile, Director of the National Health Institution (NHI) Antonio Bonito said they had worked with Alola to provide training to health personnel in order to help community groups to implement the program.
He said health personnel, including doctors, midwives, nurses and nutritionists, would be responsible for managing the program in the municipalities and the sukus.
"They will establish mother's support groups in the areas they work to share information about nutrition [and] hygiene, including the immunization program for children," he said.
Midwife Eva Soares said although higher numbers of pregnant women were accessing health facilities for consultations, the long distances remained a big challenge and many still gave birth at home.
She said the GSI was a great program as it was established by mothers and supported and encouraged women to access health facilities.
She acknowledged that the program had made significant progress at a grassroots level, particularly in increasing women's understanding of maternal health issues.