The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Ministry of Health launched USAID’s Reinforce Basic Health Services (Hakbi’it) Project at the Municipality Administration Office in Debos, Covalima.  The event was attended by U.S. Ambassador to Timor-Leste Karen Stanton, Municipality Administrator José Pina Cardoso, and Vice Minister of Health Dr. Ana Isabel Soares.  

The Project, (also known as “Hakbi’it) will be implemented by JSI Research and Training Institute, Inc. (JSI), an international public health not-for-profit organization, which will work with the Municipality Health Services in Covalima to model excellence in service delivery. The Project will provide technical assistance to build the capacity of Ministry’s health workers and strengthen the quality of healthcare service delivery in the family planning and maternal, newborn and child health. The Project will also work with communities to facilitate utilization of health services and improve health outcomes for women of reproductive age and children.   

USAID’s Hakbi’it Project will support the Ministry of Health, and other development partners and NGOs, to implement their National Health Sector Strategic Plan 2011-2030. The Project will work closely with the National Ministry of Health and the National Institute of Health to implement approved training courses in maternal obstetric care, newborn care and family planning and to support health workers to adhere to standards and protocols when they are working in health facilities.  By improving standards of health care, and improving utilization of health services the Project will support the Ministry of Health to achieve the objectives of reducing maternal, newborn and under five mortality rates.