Former Vice-Minister for Health Hanjam to open centre to cater for malnutrition and provide palliative care

Political positions may come and go but your professional career remains as such former Vice-Minister for Health, Madalena Hanjam, fresh out after finishing her political appointment will be looking at operating a home based clinic to treat malnutrition and to provide palliative care to members of the community.

“I have work in my profession and in the near future I will be looking at opening a practice to treat malnutrition and provide palliative care. I will also be looking at controlling the consumption of tobacco. These three things will be the core of my business,” said the former Vice-Minister at the Palácio Nobre in Lahane (08/08).
According to her, the Ministry of Health (MS) still does not have any programs on palliative care and the levels of malnutrition are still very high nationwide.
Besides operating this clinic, she will advocate relevant ministries to ensure these issues be taken up especially palliative care.

“All this time patients are referred abroad, but for terminal illnesses such as cancer, patients are sent home, hence this initiative to establish these kinds of clinics to provide palliative care,” said Hanjam.

Hanjam added currently 58 per cent of children under the age of five (5) are malnourished while the percentage for expecting mothers is 43 per cent.

She will also tackle the issue of smoking in Timor-Leste.
“I will be speaking to the relevant ministries such as the Ministry of Justice (MJ) regarding tobacco legislation, the Ministry of Education to raise community awareness, and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to look into the price of cigarettes produced here in Timor-Leste. I will also look at MS policy because smoking reduces life expectancy.”

Cesalthina Angela was glad to see health professionals helping malnourished children because to her, they are the future of this nation.

“Let us hope this positive and creative initiative will benefit Timorese children. The health professionals know about the issues and can suggest the new Government to do something about it, it’s their responsibility,” said Angela.