Australia supports extension of Liga Inan to Liquica District for improved maternal health

Australia supports extension of Liga Inan to Liquica District for improved maternal health

27 August 2014

The Australian Government continues to support better maternal and child health outcomes in Timor-Leste with the expansion of a successful mobile phone-based service called ‘Liga Inan’ (Tetun for ‘Connecting Mothers’) to Liquica District.

Australian Ambassador to Timor-Leste, Peter Doyle, attended the program launch at the Liquica Administrator’s Office on 21 August. The program, which is managed by Health Alliance International (HAI), uses SMS mobile phone technology designed by Catalpa to connect pregnant women in remote areas with their local midwife. The launch was also attended by Timor-Leste Vice-Minister for Health, Natália de Araújo, Liquica District Administrator Joao Alegria, HAI country Manager Che Katz and local health department directors.

Maria Jose and Jenilda Oliveira from HAI with Liga Inan promotional materials. Photo: Australian Embassy Dili	Liquica District Administrator, HAI country manager and the Australian Ambassador to Timor-Leste address the launch. Photo: Australian Embassy Dili

“Australia is committed to improving the health outcomes for Timorese women and children,” said Mr Doyle at the launch. “By supporting the Ministry of Health’s priorities, the Australian Government is providing a range of life-saving activities to Timorese women and children, including connecting midwives with pregnant mothers through the Liga Inan program,” he said.

Mr Doyle also outlined how the Timor-Leste Ministry of Health and Australian Government are working together to repair ambulances in all 13 districts. Ambulances are critical for ensuring pregnant women in an emergency are transported to hospital in a safe and timely manner.

The Timor-Leste Ministry of Health, HAI, Catalpa and the Australian Government will work together to implement Liga Inan across all 13 districts in Timor-Leste. The objectives of Liga Inan are critical – to ensure more pregnant women deliver their babies with a skilled health professional.

Through Liga Inan, midwives enter a pregnant woman’s details into a system and they are then contacted twice a week via SMS with information and announcements. Mothers can ask questions during their pregnancy by asking a midwife to call them back. Midwives are alerted when a mother’s due date approaches so they can call to check the mother and her family are prepared. The Australian Government is contributing just over AUD$860,000 to the program in 2014-15.

HAI Country manager, Vice Minister of Health and Australian  Ambassador to Timor-Leste cut a cake to launch the expansion of the program to Liquica. Photo: Australian Embassy Dili	VIPs and Liga Inan program staff join together at the launch in Liquica. Photo: Australian Embassy Dili