If you’ve spent any time in Timor-Leste’s healthcare system, there’s a good chance you’ve met Bel.
Belmerio Jeronimo (known to us all as Bel) is a committed healthcare leader with over 15 years of experience in public health. Currently serving as the Senior Program Manager for tuberculosis at Maluk Timor, Bel’s focused on reducing the burden of TB through prevention, early diagnosis, and systems strengthening.
Timor-Leste continues to carry a heavy, costly tuberculosis burden. For Bel, the fight against TB isn’t just professional, but deeply personal. His career continues to be driven by a desire to improve quality of life for all Timorese people, working to ensure that this preventable illness is eradicated as quickly as possible. Now, with the support of Maluk Timor’s Future Healthcare Leaders Scholarship, Bel’s work can be amplified even further.
Transitioning from eye health to public health leadership
Bel first began his career in eye health, where he actively managed outreach and clinical programs across Timor-Leste for more than a decade. During this time, Bel’s experience grew significantly as he saw the direct impact of healthcare access to local Timorese communities.
During this time, his desire to have a broader impact only grew. This led to Bel’s transition into public health management. He joined Maluk Timor to contribute to health system development and the wellbeing of vulnerable communities.
‘I was inspired to pursue a career in healthcare by my passion for improving people’s quality of life,’ reflects Bel. ‘I started in eye health and worked for more than ten years managing programs, then moved into public health leadership. For the last three years, I’ve been leading our work on tuberculosis – focusing on prevention, system strengthening, and supporting vulnerable communities.’
The way Bel has overcome a background with limited formal education opportunities only makes his work in Timor-Leste’s healthcare fields more profound. Now, Bel is one of the nation’s trusted senior healthcare leaders, driving positive change in tuberculosis management on a daily basis.
Leading in tuberculosis care
As Maluk Timor’s Senior Program Manager for tuberculosis, Bel is responsible for overseeing our activity in TB prevention, detection, and treatment. Bel leads a team of dedicated healthcare practitioners to deliver programs that focus on:
- Community awareness and education, designed to reduce stigma levels and improve early testing
- Strengthening clinical systems to support diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing follow-up
- Collaborations with the Ministry of Health and our international partners to align our TB strategies
- Integrating TB care with broader health initiatives to improve accessibility for remote Timorese communities
These targeted efforts see Maluk Timor working to close the gap between healthcare targets and healthcare outcomes for Timor-Leste’s people, building TB treatments that are more effective, strategic and sustainable.
The impact of the Future Healthcare Leaders Scholarship
In 2025, Bel was selected as one of the celebrated recipients of Maluk Timor’s Future Healthcare Leaders Scholarship. This program supports the professional development of our local Timorese staff who continue to demonstrate high performance and potential in their healthcare field.
‘My journey hasn’t always been easy,’ shares Bel. ‘I started out with a low level of education, and one of my biggest challenges has been finding ways to keep learning and growing so I can keep making a difference. With this scholarship, I now have the opportunity to study for a Master of Public Health. I believe this course will help strengthen my ability to lead programs, contribute to evidence-based decisions, and mentor others in the health sector. It will also allow me to design more effective services that respond to the needs of our communities.’
At Maluk Timor, we believe that learning should be accessible to everyone – and Bel’s continued journey demonstrates just what’s possible when these opportunities are targeted to our local leaders. We’re so grateful for Bel’s dedicated work and can’t wait to see what he achieves through his online studies with the University of London.
‘I hope to see a future where everyone in Timor-Leste can access good quality healthcare,’ Bel continues. ‘I want to be part of building that future. Thank you so much for your generosity. Your support gives me the chance to learn more, do more, and serve better.
Conclusion
Bel Jeronimo’s continued education journey speaks to his persistence, leadership, and vision. From his early beginnings in eye health outreach to his expanding leadership in tuberculosis care, Bel demonstrates the empathy and experience every day that positions him as one of Timor-Leste’s future leaders. We’re proud and grateful to call Bel our colleague.
Through the Future Healthcare Leaders Scholarship, Bel’s impact will continue to deepen, taking his years of practical experience and pairing them with knowledge that will strengthen healthcare systems, impact future leaders, and shape Timor-Leste’s health outcomes for decades to come.
Our donors who support this scholarship make powerful investments in the long-term health of Timor-Leste. Together, we’re ensuring that dedicated professionals such as Bel are able to lead the fight against preventable diseases, building a stronger healthcare system for the entire nation. Congratulations, Bel!