DILI, 14 July 2025 (TATOLI) – Timor-Leste has called for urgent and inclusive action to address the social, economic, and environmental factors that continue to drive global health inequalities, particularly in the world’s most vulnerable nations.
Speaking at the United Nations General Assembly high-level dialogue on the social determinants of health, Timor-Leste’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Dionísio Babo Soares, stressed that tackling health disparities is not only a technical challenge, but a moral and political imperative.
“For countries like Timor-Leste and many other Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States, the ability of people to live a healthy and dignified life is shaped not just by healthcare systems, but by the environments in which they are born, grow, live, and work,” Ambassador Soares said during the UN High-Level Interactive Dialogue, held at Trusteeship Council Chamber, in New York, on Friday, 11 July 2025.
Globally, more than 700 million people still live in extreme poverty. In Timor-Leste, nearly 42% of the population lives below the national poverty line. Ambassador Soares noted that this significantly hinders access to clean water, nutritious food, decent housing, and education— “factors that lie at the root of preventable illness, stunted development, and premature death.”
He said that health outcomes are not solely clinical results, but also reflect broader issues of “inequality, exclusion, and structural neglect.”
He highlighted education as a key driver of public health, especially for women and girls: “In Timor-Leste, while great strides have been made since independence, school completion remains low, especially among girls. This directly impacts women’s health, family planning, and economic opportunity.”
Climate change also featured prominently in his statement. He said that in many Small Island Developing States (SIDS), communities live in vulnerable coastal or flood-prone areas, often in informal housing without basic services. “Climate change has turned this vulnerability into a crisis. Storms, droughts, and sea-level rise threaten food and water security and put additional strain on fragile health systems. These are not isolated challenges; they are part of a larger ecosystem of structural disadvantage,” Soares added.
He highlighted that these are not isolated issues, saying they are part of a wider system of structural disadvantage.
To address these interconnected challenges, Ambassador Soares urged the international community to invest in the foundational elements of health—such as access to water and sanitation, decent housing, education, and food systems that nourish rather than harm.
The Ambassador also advocated for fair wages, inclusive social protection, and a “health in all policies” approach, where every sector—from urban planning to digital connectivity—takes public health into account: “Health must be integrated into urban planning, education, transportation, climate action, and digital connectivity. Every policy decision is a health decision. For example, investing in safe roads and public transport increases physical activity and reduces injury. Providing internet access in rural areas enables telemedicine and health education.”
He emphasized the importance of community engagement and locally driven solutions, citing mothers’ groups and youth-led initiatives in Timor-Leste as examples of effective grassroots involvement. “We urge development partners to channel financing toward these local efforts and long-term system-building, not just short-term interventions,” Soares added.
“Health inequities are not inevitable,” he concluded. “They are the result of choices and can be changed through bold, inclusive action. Let us work together to ensure that all people, regardless of income, gender, or geography, can live healthy and fulfilling lives, with dignity and opportunity at their core.”
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
