The fight for independence in Timor Leste (East Timor) left the country's infrastructure battered, including health care.

Health standards are poor in Timor Leste with only one doctor per 10,000 patients. An estimated 44% of children aged under five underweight, the incidence of Tuberculosis and AIDS is rising steeply, and the maternal mortality rate is 370 per 100,000 live births - one of the highest outside Sub-Saharan Africa.

It is vital for the recovery of the Timorese people that health facilities are improved.

Igreja Protestante iha Timor Lorosa'e (IPTL), the Protestant Church in Timor Leste, has developed two health care clinics in rural areas of the country. UnitingWorld is committed to assisting in the operation of these initiatives.

The Los Palos and Same clinics work alongside other government programs treating measles, malnutrition, respiratory and gastric illnesses.  Los Palos clinic also provides mobile three mobile clinics a month and a nutritional feeding program for the most vulnerable.

2011 Updates

UnitingWorld committed to supporting this project in mid-2011, when the management of these clinics were taken over by IPTL. There is already promising results with an increase in patient visits in Same clinic from 300 to 1,000 in just a few months. Two nurses will also complete training in Java and return to the clinics in the near future.

Downloadable Resources:

Project Sheet