Dili, October 1, 2024 (Média Democracia) – The National Platform for Water, Sanitation and Health in Timor-Leste PNBSTL organized a national dialogue on the theme, “Raising community awareness of clean water, sanitation, health, gender equality, disability and social inclusion including climate change”. The national dialogue was held at the Esperança hall, Delta on Monday.
According to the President of PNBSTL, Esmenia Laura Ximenes said, today’s activity was held in order to collaborate with the government and development partners to hold a national dialogue on how to increase public awareness regarding development in the water, sanitation, and health sectors, especially the integration of gender equality, disability, social inclusion, and climate change.
“It is now 2024 but we are still facing a big problem, namely that people still cannot access clean water, sanitation and health with proper and safe, we feel that with this national dialogue the government through the relevant ministries can carry out their commitment, especially in making an action plan every year so that in the future clean water, sanitation and health will be better.” Said Esmenia Laura Ximenes
She continued, PNBSTL’s hope for the results of this national dialogue is how to influence the government through related ministries so that government politics are stronger. In addition, it can improve the water, sanitation, and health sectors better in the future.
Secretary of State for Electricity, Water and Sanitation, Santos Noronha added that national dialogue activities like this are very important because they discuss clean water which is a mainstay sector for all sectors because this national dialogue was held by PNBSTL in order to discuss with the government to see developments in all fields.
“Clean water as a mainstay of a country, seminars like this that we all attend which are held by PNBSTL are very good because we have many sources of water but sometimes public awareness is still lacking, so through seminars like this to provide mutual understanding so that they have good awareness so that they can avoid theft and illegal use of clean water, so that everyone can access clean water properly.” He said.
He continued, on the other hand, institutions engaged in the clean water sector have not been able to run well so that through this dialogue, the institutions that are currently participating can discuss so that they can find out more about the development of clean water and health in Timor Leste.
It was further explained that this national dialogue was held by PNBSTL and attended by the Secretary of State for Electricity, Water and Sanitation, WaterAid, BTL-Ep, Lecturers from universities, and students.
Reported by : Domingas
Picture by : Domingas