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East Timor

Our first capacity building program in Timor Leste (East Timor) was established in 2004 with the goal of developing diagnostic services across the country. The first phase of the Pathology Development Program (PDP) established automated reliable testing in Dili’s two main pathology laboratories and across regional centres. This built skills in diagnostics in East Timor from a very basic, unreliable and limited set of pathology tests to a more dependable and comprehensive service across the country within five years.

East TimorSt John of God Health Care committed to a second phase of the PDP in 2011 which will further develop pathology capabilities, focussing on training of Timorese scientists in scientific and pathological understanding to ensure sustainable long-term improvements in diagnosis of diseases for the whole population.

In 2010 we commenced a Nursing Development Program, having signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Health in Timor Leste (East Timor) to improve patient outcomes by developing the capacity of nurses working at the Guido Valadares National Hospital in Dili. The initial team of skilled Australian and New Zealand nurses has since grown to nine nurses.

Our nursing and pathology programs have the scope to improve health outcomes on a national level and these are complimented by primary healthcare services provided at the Bakhita Community Medical Clinic in the remote Ermera District.

Bakhita

About East Timor

The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste (known in Australia as East Timor) became the first new sovereign state of the 21st century when it declared independence in May 2002. A former colony of Portugal, the country is emerging from an oppressed, turbulent and difficult past, notably since invasion and occupation by Indonesia in 1975.

East Timor is listed by the UN as the poorest country in Asia and among the poorest in the world (2008). Around a third of the nation’s 1.1 million population is below the age of 15, the median ages is estimated at 22.5 years (CIA) and more than 40 per cent of Timorese people live below the poverty line.

The emerging nation faces significant challenges in rebuilding its infrastructure and health sector, which were long neglected by occupying powers.

Unequal access to adequate health services, clean water and sanitation are major issues for East Timor and inadequate health information systems, coupled with immature human resources throughout the health sector are highlighted as challenges by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Poor nutrition, high infant mortality and low life expectancies characterise demographics in East Timor and St John of God Health Care is committed to supporting the Timorese government build capacity within the health sector through sustainable, long-term development programs.