DILI, 26 september 2024 (TATOLI – Menzies School of Health Research’s (Menzies) Timor-Leste Program marks its fifth anniversary, celebrating a significant milestone in its contribution to the health sector in Timor-Leste.
During this time the team has conducted over 40 research projects, engaging more than 50,000 participants. These have helped respond to some of the most urgent public health concerns facing the people of Timor-Leste and were made possible through working with hundreds of collaborators and funding partners.
Since the Program’s official establishment in 2019, the in-country team has grown from 5 to now more than 75 team members. This has supported more than 10 major multi-year donor-funded projects to be implemented. These projects are focused on improving clinical care, disease surveillance and laboratory strengthening, conducted in partnership with the Timor-Leste Ministry of Health (MoH) and Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Forestry (MALFF).
The Menzies Timor-Leste Program remains committed to facilitating high-quality research, providing evidence-based recommendations, and delivering capacity-strengthening programs to respond the needs of Timor-Leste’s health system.
They address a range of health areas including antimicrobial resistance, tuberculosis, dengue, COVID-19, vaccine preventable diseases, vector-borne and zoonotic infections, malnutrition and rheumatic heart disease, providing robust evidence-based approaches to inform policy and practice.
The team looks to the future to continue their collaborative efforts with local partners, government agencies, and communities, to make meaningful strides in addressing key health challenges and promoting positive health practices.
Menzies School of Health Research Timor-Leste Program Co-lead, Josh Francis said: “As Menzies Timor-Leste looks ahead to the next five years, we remain committed to Menzies’ purpose to achieve sustainable health improvements through excellence and leadership in research, education and capacity strengthening, focused on the local needs and priorities in Timor-Leste.”
“It is a huge privilege for us to be able to partner with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry, supporting their leadership in addressing the health challenges that matter most in this special place.”
The National Director of Veterinary Directorate, Joanita Bendita da Costa Jong said that “We are committed to dedicating our workforce to continue the strong collaboration with Menzies in strengthening the work we have built from the ground for years to come. This includes tackling issues such as brucellosis and antimicrobial resistance in Timor-Leste which are both important global health challenges. This will strengthen the animal health and public health system in Timor-Leste.”
Menzies is one of Australia’s leading medical research institutes dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and a leader in global and tropical health research. Menzies continues to translate research into effective partnerships and programs in communities across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
