DILI, 05 March 2025 (TATOLI) – The Global Fund provides US$15 million to Timor-Leste to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria during the period 2024-2026.
“Of the US$15 million, US$7 million is allocated for combating HIV/AIDS, US$7 million for TB, and US$1 million for malaria,” said Madalena Hanjam, Administrator of the Global Fund Division, in Dili today.
From 2021 to 2023, the Global Fund provided US$21 million to Timor-Leste to combat HIV, TB, and malaria.
She said that most of the money is allocated for purchasing medicines and medical facilities, and equipment, as well as for diagnosis, treatment, and other related expenses.
Hanjam said that there are currently around 2,000 people living with HIV/AIDS in Timor-Leste.
In 2023, Timor-Leste notified 6171 tuberculosis (TB) cases, the highest on record, according to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Global Tuberculosis Report 2024.
Timor-Leste ranks second in TB incidence within the WHO South-East Asia Region and is among the top countries globally, with an estimated incidence rate of 498 cases per 100,000 populations.
Previously, Raul Sarmento, the Coordinator of the Malaria Program at the Ministry of Health, stated that Timor-Leste has made significant progress in containing malaria and is ready to be eligible for malaria-free country certification
“The team of the World Health Organization (WHO) has already visited Timor-Leste twice to assess the country’s progress in eradicating the disease. This year, the team will return for another inspection. We deserve to be certified as a malaria-free country,” Sarmento told Tatoli, in Dili.
Last year, at the National Seminar commemorating 20 years of Global Fund support to Timor-Leste, President Horta unveiled the country’s remarkable health transformation, highlighting a cumulative investment of US$108,639,978 that has strategically targeted critical health challenges. The fund’s targeted allocations include US$41,070,951 for malaria, US$28,387,525 for HIV, US$30,946,122 for tuberculosis, US$2,735,587 for health system strengthening (RSSH), and US$5,499,792 for COVID-19 response.
The Timor-Leste government has been in partnership with the Global Fund since 2003 to combat HIV/AIDS, TB, and malaria in the country.
TATOLI
