Secretary of State for the Promotion of Equality (SEPI) has held a seminar about women’s cancers so women can protect themselves against the disease. 
SE Idelta Maria Rodrigues said this seminar was a part of the World Women’s Day which is held on March 8 every year.
She said the theme of this year’s World Women’s Day was to “inspire change in women’s lives through education and health”.
“We see lots of women who die from cancer; that’s why we will hold a special debate with the ministries of education and health to discuss cancer prevention which strongly affects women,” SE Rodrigues said in Kaikoli, Dili.
The special debate will be broadcast through Radio and Television of Timor-Leste (RTTL), so people can watch, listen and understand about cancers.
SE Rodriguez said prevention was important as cancer treatment is expensive.
Member of Commission F (Health, Education, Veteran and Gender Equality) Member of Parliament Ilda Maria da Conceicao agreed and supported this idea to share the information with women.
She said it was important that women knew the early symptoms of cancers, so they can receive treatment immediately.
GMPTL president MP Josefa Alvares Pereira Soares called on SEPI to look into the work of the Ministry of Health in sharing information to women who live in rural areas far from health facilities.
“They must walk a long way to access health facilities and they have no information about the education to prevent those diseases which affect their health,” she said.
