Paulina Quintao – The rate of Anemia has been increasing in the country according to data from the Timor-Leste Food and Nutrition survey 2013, that showed that 63% of anemia had an effect on children older than 6 years old, while 40% of women from reproductive age 14 to 60 suffered from anemia.

The Food Security Official from the Ministry of Health, Mario Moreira dos Santos said anemia is a major threat to public health in Timor-Leste, with many young women suffering from anemia.

Therefore, he said to reduce this, an integrated service between the Ministries is necessary with assurance the communities have access to sufficient food and knowledge about nutritional food.

"For women, when they get their period, they lose a lot of blood during the first three days and sometime a week, it is important to consume food rich in iron improve their blood otherwise they will suffer from anemia," he said in the hall at FONGTIL, Kaikoli, Dili.

He added foods rich in iron are liver, meat, vegetables and as well, important to drink lots of water.

He said the government is making an effort through the Ministry of Health to raise awareness to the community, especially for women to take care of their health and consume food that give nutrition to their body.

He added that iron deficiency affected directly to the connective or intellectual ability of a person to learn, and a major risk for pregnant women that could lead to death in delivery, or where the baby could be underweight and premature.

The data shows anemia cases, especially for women range between the ages of 14 to 60, mostly in Dili, Liquisa, Baucau, Bobonaro and the Special Administrative Region Oe-Cusse.

The Deputy Minister of Health, Ana Isabel Soares acknowledged that Timor-Leste has made significant progress in the last 15 years, particularly in the health sector, however, not in anemia cases.

She said this is linked to the lifestyle change of society which impacts each day on unhealthy diet and no nutritional balance.

Sra Soares also said according to the research of the Demography Health Survey 2010, children's malnutrition rate in Timor-Leste has managed to decrease 58% and in 2013 the malnutrition type stunting decreased from 50% with 45% underweight, to 38%.

"We have managed to reduce this disease for children, but there is high prevalence of anemia in Timor-Leste," he said.

He informed the government is now conducting a research about the issue of anemia in Timor-Leste, in order to develop an intervention to reduce anemia.

Meanwhile, the Executive Director of NGO Forum Timor-Leste (FONGTIL), Arsenio Pereira da Silva said civil society has a commitment and obligation to contribute toward the development of the country for people's well being.

He said many National, international and local NGOs were working on agriculture and the food security sectors, in particular to mobilize the community and establish horticulture groups to increase food production.

"We are the civil society and must take a role to promote nutritious food, such as macro-nutrient, so people learn about nutrition in food to reduce the rates," he said.

He said malnutrition and anemia must become everyone's concern in order to reduce, as there are several causes that lead to this condition, in particular knowledge, the economy, social conditions and insufficient foods.

Source: http://www.thediliweekly.com/en/news/health/14801-high-prevalence-of-anemia-in-timor-leste