In Timor-Leste, a disease that’s entirely curable remains one of the largest threats to public health. Tuberculosis (TB) has been eradicated in many regions throughout the world, and in others, innovative medical treatments have turned this disease into one that’s preventable and manageable. In Timor-Leste, however, a lack of knowledge, resources, and healthcare access can contribute to unnecessary infections and avoidable TB deaths.
This is why we’re urgently focused on educating communities (especially young women and girls within them) about TB in Timor-Leste. With gender inequality in Timor-Leste, particularly in rural areas, leading to a lack of knowledge for girls and young women in particular, this can expose them to a higher TB risk than their male counterparts. It’s just one reason why, through key educational efforts and strategic programs, we’re contributing to a better future for Timor-Leste’s vulnerable population.
Why is TB so common in Timor-Leste?
Even with falling rates of infection throughout many developing regions in the world, TB remains a significant threat in Timor-Leste due to the social, economic, and healthcare factors that allow it to spread. Complex and nuanced, these factors present significant challenges in eradicating TB for good, including:
- A lack of public awareness. With gaps in healthcare education meaning many people throughout Timor-Leste don’t fully understand how TB spreads, its symptoms, or why treatment is necessary, problems with public awareness continue to impact TB transmission rates.
- Residential and village overcrowding. With families living within low socioeconomic constraints, overcrowding is common amongst Timor-Leste homes and villages. This can place individuals at higher risk of catching this airborne disease from a friend or family member. Pair overcrowding with disrupted access to clean water and sanitation, and hygiene challenges can also contribute to increasing infection risks.
- Malnutrition dangers. Malnutrition is another urgent health issue that impacts a significant amount of Timorese children and adults. For those in low-income communities, malnutrition can make them more vulnerable to infections like TB. As malnutrition can also contribute to weakened immune systems, this can accelerate the ongoing spread of this dangerous disease.
- Limited or disrupted access to healthcare services. Shortages in skilled healthcare workers, resource constraints and geographical limitations mean that Timor-Leste communities can face severe issues in receiving the medical care they need. For individuals with TB, this can mean that the disease continues to grow in its risk and impact.
- Social stigmas. Unfortunately, stigmas related to TB can also keep Timor-Leste’s communities from accessing the care they need. With fears of being ostracised in their communities at the forefront, many people who develop TB are prone to keep their infection quiet. When these stigmas keep people from seeking treatment early in their infection, their health outcomes can quickly worsen – and so, too, can the health outcomes of vulnerable health communities who TB may spread to without proper treatment. This, again, can be particularly prevalent for young women and girls, who can face more discrimination from their communities in the wake of a TB diagnosis.
How we’re working to educate communities about TB
We know first-hand the power of healthcare education at Maluk Timor. That’s why we’re focused on delivering TB education across the nation of Timor-Leste, equipping Timorese communities to reduce infection rates and fight back against TB’s prevalence. Our work in this area includes:
- TB education and counselling. By screening family and household contacts of TB patients, we’re able to identify cases and refer confirmed cases for a TB-specific antibiotic treatment schedule. We can also proactively refer close contacts of high-risk patients for preventative treatment at community health centres.
- Targeted systems improvements. Working hand in hand with the Timor-Leste Ministry of Health, we’re always identifying ways we can improve systems to better manage TB in the healthcare system. To date, we’ve been able to improve referral feedback mechanisms, contributing to better patient healthcare when their case is passed between healthcare providers in different locations.
- Cough triage training. By educating Timor-Leste’s nurses on how to identify and screen patients presenting to hospitals with chest infections, we’re equipping these key healthcare workers with better screening tools. For patients who are at risk of being infected with TB, nurses are trained to separate them into a ‘cough corner’, as well as using a higher level of personal protective equipment when treating them.
- Screening and treatment for TB. Early detection and treatment of TB is vital in preventing the spread of the disease. Our cough triage work, tracing and screening of contacts all contribute to reduced TB rates of infection when we’re able to intervene.
Conclusion
Even with the size of the challenge TB presents in Timor-Leste, we continue to believe in a brighter, healthier future for Timor-Leste’s people. This is a disease we know we can fight, and knowledge and education are two of the most powerful tools we have for its reduction and future eradication. By educating girls, young women and women about TB, we’re able to reduce the impact this disease has in their homes and communities.
We can’t do it without the power of our global community. With supporters from countries all over the globe offering their financial support, we’re able to continue to operate and expand our TB programs throughout Timor-Leste. Every dollar makes a difference in reducing TB’s impact and paving the way to a safer future for Timorese people. Learn more about how your donation can save and improve lives throughout this beautiful country today.