Dili: Timor-Leste celebrated two decades of impactful partnership with the Global Fund (GF) to Fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria on Tuesday—a major milestone in the battle against world’s deadliest infectious diseases. Since joining the initiative in 2003, Timor-Leste has received $108.6 million from the Global Fund, used to strengthen its healthcare systems and saving countless lives.
The GF, established in 2002 to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, has mobilized resources worldwide to save lives and strengthen health systems. Timor-Leste's partnership began with a $2.87 million grant for malaria control, marking the start of a journey that has since seen over $41.7 million allocated for malaria, $28 million for HIV, nearly $31 million for tuberculosis, and more than $27 million for Resilient and Sustainable Systems for Health (RSSH). Additionally, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the GF extended its support with a $5.5 million grant.
An event held at the Presidential Palace to celebrate this collaboration was attended by the President of Timor-Leste, Dr José Ramos-Horta; Mr José Dos Reis Magno, Vice Minister of Institutional Strengthening; WHO Representative Dr Arvind Mathur; Mr Filipe da Costa and Ms Sabina Fernandes Seac, Chair and Vice-Chair of the Country Coordination Mechanism (CCM), along with ambassadors from Australia and representatives from US Embassy.
“I deeply appreciate the presence of GF in Timor-Leste. It has tirelessly supported our fight against malaria, TB & HIV, extending reach to the most rural areas, including the pandemic. My gratitude also goes to WHO for their continuous technical support,” said President Dr Horta. He urged the Ministry of Health and its partners to address nutrition alongside tuberculosis treatment to adopt a more holistic approach to health.
Mr Magno urged the WHO and the GF to continue their support for critical life-saving programs until these diseases are no longer a public health threat. He also reminded the audience of the pledge signed by former PM Taur Matan Ruak to eliminate tuberculosis by 2025.
Dr Mathur highlighted the measurable impact of these collaborations, stating, “TB-related deaths have decreased by 55% since 2015, and there has been a record-high case detection of 6,171 cases in 2023, driven by improved diagnostic outreach.” He added that new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths have declined, reflecting sustained efforts to keep prevalence low.
On malaria, Dr Mathur spoke of significant progress, while emphasizing the country’s readiness to achieve elimination. Timor-Leste has already hosted two elimination missions and is now focused on preventing any resurgence of malaria cases.
Manab Basnet, Portfolio Manager of the GF, congratulated Timor-Leste on making a lot of progress in saving lives over the past 20 years. He reaffirmed the GF's commitment to continued support and expressed gratitude to all partners, including WHO, ambassadors, and NGOs, for their invaluable contributions.
The event featured exhibition stalls showcasing the progress and developments made in combating these diseases. The Ministry of Health demonstrated malaria blood testing procedures using microscopes, offering attendees a hands-on view of the process. Additionally, giant mosquito models were displayed to illustrate the most prevalent mosquito species in the country.