The Marie Stopes International Timor-Leste (MSI-TL) Clinic is offering a free information line that young people can contact to get in depth information about reproductive health.
Coordinator of the Marie Stopes International Clinic (MSI-TL) Maria Fernanda Serra said the information line with the phone number 8001001 was a way to help young people learn more about reproductive organs.
“Currently we have a youth program that MSI runs with the Kiss Info-line, so they can also access information via telephone,” Coordinator Serra said in Villa Verde, Dili.
MSI plans to hold a group discussion with the youth in each village to increase their knowledge of reproductive health issues, because last month several young girls committed suicide because of unwanted pregnancies.
She also said MSI had distributed information about reproductive health to communities in eight districts down to the village level, including to students in junior and senior high schools across Dili.
Based on MSI statistics, in 2012 there were 6151 young girls and boys who asked for information about reproductive health.
On the other hand, Chief of Youth Reproductive Health in the Ministry of Health, Luisa Barros, said currently the ministry prioritized youth health and had created a youth reproductive health policy as a guide for health staff.
She added the ministry also established a specific centre in Becora Health Centre, complete with facilities and health staff, to treat and give counselling to young people who faced health problems.
“I suggest if young people have problems and want to get better information or a consultation by health staff, there a specific place for them,” she said.
