Celebrating a nine-year partnership that has helped to change and save lives

29 Oct 2020

Since 2012, the Bayu-Undan Joint Venture has invested over US$2.5 million to support the delivery of St John of God International Health’s Nursing Development Program (NDP), which was established in partnership with Timor’s Ministry of Health in 2010. 

St John of God International Health Director, Anthea Ramos said the NDP is aimed at improving the quality of patient care across hospitals in Timor-Leste by building the capacity of Timorese nurses, midwives and healthcare leaders through education and training, leadership and management, and quality and hospital standards. 

“We have also provided direct clinical support in the intensive care, paediatrics, midwifery, neonatal intensive care, emergency and medical wards,” Anthea said. 

Over the past nine years, the financial support provided by the Bayu-Undan Joint Venture has allowed the St John of God International Health team to implement numerous projects that have built the capacity of Timorese workers and improved patient care at the HNGV. These include: 

• Facilitated Training Placements for Nurses, Midwives and Laboratory staff 
• Core Competency Program for Nurses and Midwives
• Development of Nurse and Midwifery Educators
• New Nurse and Midwife Program
• Hospital Wide Survey Assessments
• Clinical and non-clinical audits and surveys 
• Executive Mentoring for Director of Nursing and Midwifery
• Health Manager Program 
• COVID-19 Support

“The ongoing support we receive from the Bayu-Undan Joint Venture makes a huge difference to our programs and has been directly responsible for us being able to deliver significant, sustainable practice change that has improved access to quality healthcare and patient experience for the people of Timor-Leste,” said Anthea. 

Present at the event to celebrate the next 12 month chapter of the ongoing partnership between St John of God International Health and the Bayu-Undan Joint Venture were: Santos representative, Sra Elizabeth Gomes; Autoridade Nacional Do Petroleo E Minerais Timor-Leste representative, Snr Antonio Sousa; Suai Municipal Referral Hospital Director Clinical Services, Dr Nazario; HNGV Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Senhora Lolita de Araujo; HNGV nursing and midwifery chefes, HNGV educators and the HNGV quality team.

Anthea and St John of God Social Outreach Chief Executive Officer, Susan Cantwell joined the event virtually via Zoom as did several other St John of God International Health caregivers based in Australia. 

“It was truly a privilege to be able to come together, albeit virtually for some of us, and celebrate the ongoing generosity of the Bayu-Undan Joint Venture and what our team has been able to achieve in partnership with the Ministry of Health over the past nine years,” Anthea said.