We continue to be inspired each year by the impact of our work across Timor-Leste—and 2024 was no exception. Over the past year, our commitment to inclusive, community-driven healthcare has delivered meaningful results for the Timorese people, particularly those most in need. By strengthening and expanding our programs, we’ve been able to respond to urgent health challenges while also building lasting capacity within the national health system.
Here’s what we’re grateful to have achieved across a year of impact at Maluk Timor.
Targeting Tuberculosis: significant screening outcomes
In 2024, we were able to deliver family-based outreach and child-focused care in the area of Tuberculosis treatments and prevention. A major area of health concern in Timor-Leste, Tuberculosis (TB) affects thousands of Timorese people each year – even though it is both entirely preventable and treatable. With Timor-Leste facing the challenge of one of the highest rates of TB in Southeast Asia, our work in this area is crucial to building long-term healthcare systems that improve longevity and quality of life across Timorese communities.
Since malnutrition, a lack of awareness, and problems with access to healthcare and treatment can all contribute to the prevalence of TB, there is no single solution to eradicating this disease from Timor-Leste. We take a multi-prong approach to our TB work, which, in 2024, delivered impact highlights including:
- 50,616 patients screened for TB
- 220 new TB cases detected and confirmed
- 217 people completed TB preventive therapy
- 170 TB patients were able to begin treatment at Suai Referral Hospital
- 100% of referred patients received care from District TB Assistants
- 97 healthcare workers were trained in TB case detection and prevention
Healthier smiles, healthier communities
Dental healthcare remains a major challenge throughout Timor-Leste, but it’s one our team actively fights to reduce every day. With limited infrastructure, a shortage of trained dental professionals, and low public awareness of oral hygiene creating barriers to effective and sustainable care, we’re actively working to reduce those barriers and improve dental health outcomes across the country.
In 2024, we were able to significantly improve our oral health accessibility, particularly in rural areas, as well as strengthen the local health workforce. Through the development of three national training modules, school visits through our community outreach service, and the training of 23 dental health professionals in the use of Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF), we’ve been able to make a powerful impact in the area of Timorese oral health. We’re proud of our team’s achievement in treating more than -2,860 children and adults with SDF treatments. This treatment strengthens teeth, prevents cavity growth, and improves overall oral health outcomes through proactive and preventative treatment.
Powerful support for mothers and newborns in rural communities
The area of maternal and child health throughout Timor-Leste is a key concern for Maluk Timor. With geographical, social, and systemic barriers creating increased risks for mothers and infants, our Community Approaches to Maternal and Newborn Health Equity in Rural Timor-Leste (CAMNHE) project is a crucial step to targeting these risks. Spread across five villages, the project enhances antenatal care, increases the rate of skilled birth attendance, and improves obstetric referral acceptance through encouraging community participation and behaviour change.
In 2024 alone, 2,940 essential medicines and supplements were provided to pregnant women who faced the challenge of adequate maternal healthcare. We were also able to carry out 437 patient consultations across health posts and referral hospitals.
Care for rheumatic heart disease patients
Another serious health issue in Timor-Leste is rheumatic heart disease (RHD), compounded by the high prevalence of untreated streptococcal throat infections that can cause acute rheumatic fever and long-term heart damage. Here, we see the issue of limited access to primary health care again, as well as a lack of education and awareness of the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of sore throats. With RHD disproportionately affecting children and young adults, our focus is on prevention, early detection, and treatment services to protect the future of Timor-Leste.
Our RHD 204 program impact highlights include seeing 505 RHD patients cared for by the Ministry of Health, supported by Maluk Timor. We were able to train a further 81 healthcare workers to identify people affected by RHD, strengthening our ability to send healthcare workers into rural and regional communities and provide preventative healthcare services.
Welcoming, accessible and inclusive care
No matter which Maluk Timor program we’re delivering, we continue to embed Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) principles into every aspect of our care. This means our team is focused on providing services that are welcoming, accessible, inclusive and respectful of individuals, regardless of gender, ability and social background.
We know how powerful this care is in ensuring equality to all Timorese people as we continue to build a resilient and inclusive health system. Through the development of targeted GEDSI action plans, we’re able to keep implementing and strengthening the application of these values on a daily basis throughout our work in Timor-Leste.
Conclusion
There are many examples of powerful numbers and statistics demonstrating the impact of our work across 2024 – but we know that these numbers reflect individual Timorese people whose lives have been touched through improved healthcare outcomes. We’re proud to walk alongside so many Timorese people as we respond to both urgent healthcare needs and pave pathways to stronger healthcare systems in the future. Whether it’s in our TB screenings or the joy of seeing a baby born safely in a health clinic, we see the genuine human impact of our work every day. We’re so grateful to our global family for making this life-changing work a reality. To be a part of shaping a healthier future for Timor-Leste, we invite you to learn more about how you can help fight preventable diseases as we build strong, sustainable health care in Timor-Leste together.