(Díli), Pantaikelapa – Collaboration between the church and the government has become an important point in the effort to combat HIV in Timor-Leste. The Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Timor-Leste has a strategic role to provide guidance to the community, especially on moral values and social responsibility.
Head of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of Timor-Leste, Carlos Marçal explained that the socialization activities carried out for young people not only provide theoretical education, but open their eyes to the reality of the HIV virus.
“The church has an important role to teach values and morality, but we also need to work together with institutions such as INCSIDA, IP, to expand health information to everyone,” said Carlos Marçal in the areadores INCSIDA, IP, 15/04/2026.
He also added that prayer is very important in spiritual life, but not enough to fight the HIV virus. This effort requires knowledge, awareness and real action from everyone, especially the youth who will be the future of the country.
He said that the prevention of HIV transmission can not be expected only from the Ministry of Health and INCSIDA, IP, but also requires concrete action and individual responsibility. According to him, in reality today, young people get HIV / AIDS, although not all.
“Some young people already understand the risks, but others do not, because they think that prayer alone is enough, but there is no effort to prevent,” he said.
President of INCSIDA IP, Daniel Marçal, emphasized that training and socialization as an educational activity is very important to provide knowledge and experience to youth. He asked the youth to use these opportunities to learn and then share this information in the family, community and everyone.
“That is why young people must know how to promote health, through trainings like this, to be able to receive information and experience that can then be shared,” said the President.
The President also added that it is very important for young people to understand the real situation in the world, including the challenges that occur related to public health.
“if young people do not have a thorough knowledge of problems such as HIV, it will be difficult to protect themselves”. He concluded
According to data from the National Institute to combat HIV-AIDS shows that the total number of cases of HIV-AIDS amounted to 2400 from the period 2003 to 2025, the capital Dili occupies the highest number compared to other municipalities, from the Municipality of Dili 1767, Bobonaro 126, Covalima 97, Oeca-Cauca, 976, Bauca, Ermera 48, Ainaro 40, Likisa 32, Manufahi 32, Manatuto 24, Aileu 16, Lautem 22, Viqueque 23.
Journalist/Intern: Ana Maria da Silva/ Cipriana da Silva soares
Editor : Francisco Pereira
