Also: Councils host Timor guest

Geelong News (Free Suburban)

May 5, 2004 Wednesday

Paving way for healthier East Timor

AN East Timorese woman is spending a week in Geelong to learn about the city's maternal and child health programs.

Angelina Fernandez, a midwife in Dili, is assistant co-ordinator of the East Timorese National Breastfeeding Association .

Australia East Timor Association Geelong branch secretary Rosemary Nugent said a breastfeeding program had been operating in East Timor for 12 months but it was struggling to meet demand.

It was hoped the visit would help cut the high maternal an infant mortality rate in East Timor.

Ms Nugent said the general perception in Australia that East Timor was stable since it gained independence was incorrect.

She said 12 per cent of children did not reach their 5th birthday, most families don't have access to clean water and 80 per cent of women are illiterate.

Ms Fernandez will speak at an Australian Breastfeeding Association meeting in Belmont on on Friday in Belmont.

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Hume Moreland Leader (Australia)

May 5, 2004 Wednesday

Councils host Timor guest

MORELAND and Hume councils are hosting a visitor from East Timor to highlight the needs of the developing nation.

Mario Soares, the social and economic officer for the district of Aileu, is in Melbourne for two weeks as a guest of the Friends of Aileu and the two councils.

Cr Joe Caputo said it was important to have cultural interchange between the nations at a local level.

"Talking to Mario Soares about his people's needs will help us to better understand the issues and challenges facing the people of Aileu and how we can assist," he said.

"Mario is primarily here to investigate ways of assisting the community of Aileu.

"His job in Aileu is to assist people to access services and co-ordinate aid.

"These are tasks local government in Australia is very well equipped to give advice on as we are among the best at helping our most disadvantaged members of the community."

Mr Soares has a full schedule during his two-week visit, meeting a range of people from organisations involved with supporting Friends of Aileu and East Timor.

The district of Aileu has a population of 38,000.

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