When Dr Natarajan Rajaraman (Raj) and his wife, Dr Lois Hong, first arrived in Timor-Leste in 2020, they began serving Maluk Timor as volunteers with a shared mission. In the years that followed, this incredible couple would go on to become a crucial force that drove forward many of our organisation’s most significant developments in both clinical and operational work.
Stepping into full-time staff roles just a year after their arrival, we’ve had the gift of Raj and Lois’ hard work, commitment and ingenuity for close to 5 years. As they reach the end of their time as Maluk Timor’s Executive Director (Raj) and Clinical Director (Lois), we’re taking the opportunity to look back and reflect on the remarkable legacy they leave behind, impacting healthcare across all of Timor-Leste.
Our dynamic, visionary duo
Known affectionately as our dynamic duo, Raj and Lois have been the pulse of Maluk Timor’s operations and clinical programs. From leading emergency pandemic responses to critically reinvigorating the way long-term primary healthcare is structured in Timor-Leste, their contribution has gone far beyond the bounds of a traditional leadership role.
Raj’s powerful leadership and vision for Timor-Leste’s healthcare system is aptly summarised in his note in Maluk Timor’s 2021 annual report: ‘Maluk Timor remains committed to strengthening Timor-Leste’s primary healthcare system, so that people get excellent quality care. We continue to labour inside government-run health facilities, shoulder to shoulder with Timorese healthcare providers, in close partnership with the Timorese Ministry of Health. We are still convinced that nurturing Timorese must be at the centre of this week. Because they are the future of this health system, there is no other route to making an enduring impact.’
Welcoming, compassionate care
Lois’ background is as a family physician, a passion which translated directly into her work with Maluk Timor. She delivers understanding, welcoming and compassionate care for all of Maluk Timor’s patients. Not only does she deliver this care herself, but she’s also encouraged and prioritised this in how local healthcare workers are trained, empowering them to mirror this compassion at the frontline of patient care delivery. This has been particularly important in response to some of the cultural fears and social stigmas associated with certain health conditions in Timor-Leste. By fostering a compassionate environment, Lois has been able to encourage many more Timorese people to get tested for diseases, including HIV, tuberculosis, and rheumatic heart disease.
Leading crucial initiatives
The timing of Raj and Lois stepping into full-time leadership positions coincided with the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the launch of the Vaccine Access and Health Security Initiative (VAHSI) on behalf of the Australian Government’s Partnership for Human Development program. The initiative was core to implementing projects that improved health facilities and strengthened primary healthcare in Timor-Leste across the municipalities of Dili, Ermera and Oecusses.
This was complex work, with activities spanning construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of health facilities, as well as the distribution of medical, digital and furniture equipment. In his leadership role, Raj led a Maluk Timor team in their assessment of 17 community health centres, reviewed 371 proposals for improvements, and oversaw the successful implementation of approved proposals.
A powerful network of global support
Before their work began with Maluk Timor, Raj and Lois lived and worked in Singapore. This connection is one they were able to use to bring global attention and support to our work at Maluk Timor and Timor-Leste. Thanks to this network, Maluk Timor has been able to secure major sponsors, building relationships that have a lasting impact and benefit on our programs today.
In fact, during their time at Maluk Timor, Raj and Lois’ work with us was featured in Singapore Magazine. ‘We believe in ground-up, locally led change as being the key to sustainability,’ Lois shared in the interview. ‘As Timor-Leste prepares to join ASEAN as a full member in the near future, I see a shared future for our two island nations with their own rich histories. Much as Timor-Leste can learn from Singapore’s journey of infrastructure development, I think Singaporeans will be enriched by the mental resilience, strong sense of purpose and connectedness of the Timorese to their land and to each other.’
A lasting legacy
It’s impossible to overstate the powerful, transformative impact Raj and Lois have had on Maluk Timor, and as a result, on the broader health landscape in Timor-Leste. We’re so grateful for their investment, care and expertise over these years of collaboration. Their legacy is one that’s lasting, staying in the form of strengthened systems, empowered local teams, and a rich model of compassionate healthcare.
From the entire team at Maluk Timor, and on behalf of the Timorese people whose lives you’ve changed and improved, we say a huge thank you to Raj and Lois. You’ve left a huge mark on our organisation and on our country.