As a network of health groups that work voluntarily, the presence of SHIO is very important to strengthen the services of health workers at the village level. Francisco Tilman, SHIO coordinator from Holarua village, express that with this activity, SHIO group hopes to reduce maternal and child mortality by motivating pregnant women to give birth at the nearest health facility.

“To be a good mother, we must start with improving the health condition of their children so that they can become quality generations in the future”, said Francisco Tilman, SHIO coordinator of Holarua Village.

Many activities have been carried out since this group was founded such as promotion of breastfeeding, promotion of newborn care, providing counseling to pregnant women, breastfeeding mothers including identification and referral for children suffering from malnutrition. The hard work of all SHIO members was appreciated by the GASC coordinator, Filipe da Costa.

“I express my appreciation to the members of the SHIO group because you are people who are willing to work voluntarily to help mothers in villages to gain access to good health conditions”, declare Filipe da Costa, Coordinator of GASC in Manufahi.

The two-day visit of GASC received a warm welcome from the community, mothers, including local leaders. With a sense of joy, the representative of SHIO Letefoho symbolically draped the tais as a sign of welcome. A speech was also given by the executive director of Alola who was represented by the MCH Program Manager, Jesuina  Ximenes, which was followed by a speech by the GASC Coordinator, Filipe da Costa. In his intervention, Filipe da Costa also expressed his concern about the nutrition situation in Timor-Leste.

“We have a good index of democracy as well as the index of human rights and the index of participation in politics, but if we look deeper, there is still hunger, there is still malnutrition, so we have to improve it so that our economy, social and political economy can change to a better condition”, said Filipe da Costa, GASC coordinator.

During this visit, the GASC coordinator had the opportunity to symbolically hand over Maternity Packages to a number of mothers who gave birth at a health facility, then symbolically hand over SHIO uniforms to members ofSHIO Holarua. In a friendly atmosphere, the GASC Coordinator also held discussions with SHIO members to find out the progress and obstacles that SHIO members faced when carrying out their duties.

“We want to realize the dream of Alola Foundation, no more mothers and babies die during childbirth, no children die because of malnutrition, we want Timor-Leste to be healthier, to make it happen we work together, mothers take care of their health as well as the condition of the baby, Alola socialize information and we are trying to find support, by working together we will win,” said Filipe da Costa, GASC coordinator.

The Maternity Package which was symbolically handed over during the GASC visit in Manufahi is a special gift that the GASC-GPM cabinet gave to attract pregnant women to give birth safely in health facilities. The packages distributed contained hygiene and sanitation supplies needed by new mothers such as sarongs, underpants, washable sanitary napkins, baby outfit, towel, cotton nappies, baby soap plus literature promoting good health for women and their communities in Timor-Leste.

“The Maternity Package is an award and an appreciation from donors for mothers who are always diligent in consulting during pregnancy and childbirth in health facilities”, explained Albertina de Rosa, one of the coordinators of the MCH – Alola program.