Marie Stopes International Timor-Leste (MSI-TL) provides Family Planning services for mothers who give birth in the National Hospital of Guido Valadares (HNGV) maternity ward. 
MSI-TL country director Nicola Morgan said the partnership began last year with the purpose of giving mothers the choice of when to have their next baby.
The good time for sharing this information she said, was after a mother had given birth, so she could plan for her next pregnancy.
“We wish to help new mothers recuperate their health and they can look after their new jymborn babies,” said Morgan, in Bidau, Dili.
She said every Monday the team – called Choice Dili – along with health staff at HNGV, will provide family planning to mothers who gave birth in the HGNV maternity ward.
MSI-TL’s statistics show that between November 2013 and February 2014, the MSI-TL team and HNGV could have provided family planning services for over 200.000 mothers.
HNGV general director Domingos Soares said he was grateful for the presence of MSI-TL team at HNGV and their work in helping the maternity staff provide family planning services to patients.
He said HNGV would try to cooperate with all partners to serve the community.
“We offered the place and the staff to cooperate with MSI-TL to provide services to the mothers,” Soares said.
Isabel Eduarda said she was excited by the benefits she received after attending the family planning service.
“I can better myself to stay healthy and look after the young children, and also help my husband earn money to improve the life of the family,” she said.
However she said some side effects came from taking birth control such as mood swings and headaches.
