Timor-Leste

In 1999, HAI sent a health and human rights delegation to Timor-Leste following the national referendum for independence from Indonesia.

Timor-Leste is a small, half-island nation of ~1.3 million people that, despite having some of the worst maternal and child health outcomes in Southeast Asia at independence, has made improvements against all odds. 

After the independence vote, the Indonesian military led a wide-spread campaign of violence, leaving a wake of death and destruction as they departed.  An estimated 75% of the country’s infrastructure was destroyed. The health system required rebuilding and restaffing from scratch. Nevertheless, the new country leaders were committed to free universal health care for all Timorese.

MEET HAMNASA

As of October 2021, HAI fully transferred all global operations and active Timor-Leste programs to HAMNASA, an independent local Timorese NGO with a board, leadership, and staff that reflects the communities they serve.

Follow HAMNASA and stay up to date on their full portfolio by clicking any HAMNASA logo on this website.

From the establishment of the Timor-Leste Ministry of Health (MOH) in 2002, HAI’s focus in Timor-Leste was to provide technical and planning support to the MOH’s maternal and newborn care and family planning programs; a legacy carried on by HAMNASA.

HAI’s Timor-Leste program worked both at the clinic and community level, helping to strengthen linkages between families and the primary health care services available to them through Timor-Leste’s national health system.

In 2019, the Liga Inan Program—aimed at improving maternal care seeking behaviors and maternal and child health outcomes—reached nationwide scale-up, helping connect pregnant women across the country to government midwives via moble phones.

When families reach the clinics, clinic-based Learning Labs ensure that birthing teams are ready to provide high quality care, by improving and refreshing health worker skills where they work.

Explore HAI’s Portfolio of
recent Timor-Leste-based programs below.

Health Alliance International has been a valued partner working in Timor-Leste for many years. As the first Minister of Health, I was grateful for HAI’s support as we developed our own public health system after independence. 

Dr. Rui Maria de Araújo, former Prime Minister & Minister of Health, Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste

Want to dig a little deeper?

PROJECT HISTORY

[1999-2004] East Timor Maternal Health Project (Multiple Donors)

[2004-2009] Improving Maternal and Newborn Health in East Timor (USAID CS)

[2005-2011] Promoting Community Demand for Child Spacing in Timor-Leste (USAID WL)

[2007-2008] Birth-Friendly Health Facility Project (AusAID)

[2010-2015] Support for Improved Maternal and Newborn Care in Timor-Leste in Partnership with the Timor-Leste Ministry of Health (AusAID/DFAT)

[2011-2011] Child Spacing Film Production (UNFPA)

[2011-2016] Mobile Moms: Improving Quality and Access to Maternal Care in Timor-Leste (USAID)

[2015-2017] Support of Integrated Maternal and Newborn Care and Liga Inan Scale-Up in Partnership with the Timor-leste Ministry of Health (DFAT)

[2017-2017] Establishing and mentoring Mother Support Groups to promote Key Home and Family practices for Nutrition, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health and Primary Health Care in Sucos of Aileu and Viqueque Municipality (UNICEF)

[2017-2021] Support of Integrated Maternal and Newborn Care and Liga Inan Scale-Up in Partnership with the Timor-leste Ministry of Health (PHD)

[2018-2020] Prontu: Improving health provider skills, competency and confidence to address obstetric emergencies in Timor-Leste (DFAT)

[2019-2019] Liga Inan 1000 Days Nutrition Project (Child Fund/DFAT)

[2020-2021] Harmonia Activity: Communities Stopping Gender-based Violence (USAID)

News/Media

Australia in Timor-Leste Spotlight: Xylia Ingham Australian Embassy, 2020
Healthy Newborn Network December 2019 Newsletter Health Newborn Network, 2019
Paving the Way for Quality Maternal and Newborn Care in Timor-Leste UNFPA News, 2019
HAI Timor-Leste: Stepping up for the health of the planet HAI Media, 2019
How an app is saving the lives of women and babies in Timor-Leste Medium, 2018
It turns out there is a big difference: one mother’s experience with Liga Inan HAI Media, 2018
Liga Inan is launched in Lautem Municipality HAI Media, 2018
Press Release – Timor-Leste HAI Media, 2017
HAI Invited to Present at Global Conference HAI Media, 2017
Ama Ferik: HAI Midwife Helps Local Women Establish Home Industry HAI Media, 2017
Midwife Successfully Resuscitated a 1 Kg Preemie: Saving the Lives of Newborns through follow-up after training HAI Media, 2017
Check Out This Great Blog by Baby Center on the Liga Inan Project HAI Media, 2016
HAI Timor Staff March in Take Back the Street HAI Media, 2016
Liga Inan Hotline: On Call Support to Health Providers in Timor-Leste HAI Media, 2016
Balancing breastfeeding and work HAI Media, 2016
Why don’t more women breastfeed? HAI Media, 2016
Notes from the Field: Breastfeeding in Timor-Leste HAI Media, 2016
News from Timor-Leste: HAI and NIH honor Timorese midwives (Tetum version available) HAI Media, 2016
Press release: Timor-Leste’s Prime Minister recognized HAI Media, 2016
HAI Supports Emergency Childbirth/Delivery Skills Building for Ambulance Staff HAI Media, 2016
Press Release -Getting pregnant women to care: the Liga Inan mobile phone program increases the use of life-saving maternal health services HAI Media, 2016
Liga Inan launches in Municipality Ermera HAI Media, 2016
Demonstration of Newborn Resuscitation for the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia in Dili, Timor-Leste HAI Media, 2016
Interactive mHealth Training for Midwives in Timor-Leste HAI Media, 2016
Update from the field: How well is Liga Inan working? HAI Media, 2015
Volunteer Recap: Connecting Moms To Midwives In Timor-Leste NPR: Goats & Soda, 2015
“What’s Past is Prologue”: Legacies of Conflict and Domestic Violence reach New Generations in Timor-Leste HAI Media, 2015
Global Fund for Women Showcases HAI-Timor’s Mobile Moms Project HAI Media, 2015
World Health Day 2015! HAI Media, 2015
Keeping Women & Babies Safe in Timor-Leste HAI Media, 2015
Mobile Phones Save Lives in Timor-Leste Huff Post, 2014
Texts Connect Midwives to Mothers in Timor-Leste USAID Impact Blog, 2014
Health for All. Everywhere. Now! HAI Media, 2014
MAMA Global Workshop in Timor-Leste HAI Media, 2014
Partnership with Timor Telecom Supporting Liga Inan HAI Media, 2014
Healthy Baby Network Article HAI Media, 2014
MAMA Community Spotlights mHealth Innovation: Best Practices from the Mobile Frontier, 2014
Timor-Leste Mobile Moms/Liga Inan Video, 2014
Mobile moms: Design issues in the use of cell phones to improve maternal care in timor-leste Abstract, APHA, 2013, Boston, MA
‘Mobile Moms’ to boost health of women in Timor-Leste UW news, 2012
Local Health Support Builds Better Lives for Mothers and Babies USAID Impact Blog, 2011

Timor-Leste  Portfolio

Want to dig a little deeper?

PROJECT HISTORY

[1999-2004] East Timor Maternal Health Project (Multiple Donors)

[2004-2009] Improving Maternal and Newborn Health in East Timor (USAID CS)

[2005-2011] Promoting Community Demand for Child Spacing in Timor-Leste (USAID WL)

[2007-2008] Birth-Friendly Health Facility Project (AusAID)

[2010-2015] Support for Improved Maternal and Newborn Care in Timor-Leste in Partnership with the Timor-Leste Ministry of Health (AusAID/DFAT)

[2011-2011] Child Spacing Film Production (UNFPA)

[2011-2016] Mobile Moms: Improving Quality and Access to Maternal Care in Timor-Leste (USAID)

[2015-2017] Support of Integrated Maternal and Newborn Care and Liga Inan Scale-Up in Partnership with the Timor-leste Ministry of Health (DFAT)

[2017-2017] Establishing and mentoring Mother Support Groups to promote Key Home and Family practices for Nutrition, Maternal, Newborn and Child Health and Primary Health Care in Sucos of Aileu and Viqueque Municipality (UNICEF)

[2017-2021] Support of Integrated Maternal and Newborn Care and Liga Inan Scale-Up in Partnership with the Timor-leste Ministry of Health (PHD)

[2018-2020] Prontu: Improving health provider skills, competency and confidence to address obstetric emergencies in Timor-Leste (DFAT)

[2019-2019] Liga Inan 1000 Days Nutrition Project (Child Fund/DFAT)

[2020-2021] Harmonia Activity: Communities Stopping Gender-based Violence (USAID)

News/Media

Australia in Timor-Leste Spotlight: Xylia Ingham Australian Embassy, 2020
Healthy Newborn Network December 2019 Newsletter Health Newborn Network, 2019
Paving the Way for Quality Maternal and Newborn Care in Timor-Leste UNFPA News, 2019
HAI Timor-Leste: Stepping up for the health of the planet HAI Media, 2019
How an app is saving the lives of women and babies in Timor-Leste Medium, 2018
It turns out there is a big difference: one mother’s experience with Liga Inan HAI Media, 2018
Liga Inan is launched in Lautem Municipality HAI Media, 2018
Press Release – Timor-Leste HAI Media, 2017
HAI Invited to Present at Global Conference HAI Media, 2017
Ama Ferik: HAI Midwife Helps Local Women Establish Home Industry HAI Media, 2017
Midwife Successfully Resuscitated a 1 Kg Preemie: Saving the Lives of Newborns through follow-up after training HAI Media, 2017
Check Out This Great Blog by Baby Center on the Liga Inan Project HAI Media, 2016
HAI Timor Staff March in Take Back the Street HAI Media, 2016
Liga Inan Hotline: On Call Support to Health Providers in Timor-Leste HAI Media, 2016
Balancing breastfeeding and work HAI Media, 2016
Why don’t more women breastfeed? HAI Media, 2016
Notes from the Field: Breastfeeding in Timor-Leste HAI Media, 2016
News from Timor-Leste: HAI and NIH honor Timorese midwives (Tetum version available) HAI Media, 2016
Press release: Timor-Leste’s Prime Minister recognized HAI Media, 2016
HAI Supports Emergency Childbirth/Delivery Skills Building for Ambulance Staff HAI Media, 2016
Press Release -Getting pregnant women to care: the Liga Inan mobile phone program increases the use of life-saving maternal health services HAI Media, 2016
Liga Inan launches in Municipality Ermera HAI Media, 2016
Demonstration of Newborn Resuscitation for the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia in Dili, Timor-Leste HAI Media, 2016
Interactive mHealth Training for Midwives in Timor-Leste HAI Media, 2016
Update from the field: How well is Liga Inan working? HAI Media, 2015
Volunteer Recap: Connecting Moms To Midwives In Timor-Leste NPR: Goats & Soda, 2015
“What’s Past is Prologue”: Legacies of Conflict and Domestic Violence reach New Generations in Timor-Leste HAI Media, 2015
Global Fund for Women Showcases HAI-Timor’s Mobile Moms Project HAI Media, 2015
World Health Day 2015! HAI Media, 2015
Keeping Women & Babies Safe in Timor-Leste HAI Media, 2015
Mobile Phones Save Lives in Timor-Leste Huff Post, 2014
Texts Connect Midwives to Mothers in Timor-Leste USAID Impact Blog, 2014
Health for All. Everywhere. Now! HAI Media, 2014
MAMA Global Workshop in Timor-Leste HAI Media, 2014
Partnership with Timor Telecom Supporting Liga Inan HAI Media, 2014
Healthy Baby Network Article HAI Media, 2014
MAMA Community Spotlights mHealth Innovation: Best Practices from the Mobile Frontier, 2014
Timor-Leste Mobile Moms/Liga Inan Video, 2014
Mobile moms: Design issues in the use of cell phones to improve maternal care in timor-leste Abstract, APHA, 2013, Boston, MA
‘Mobile Moms’ to boost health of women in Timor-Leste UW news, 2012
Local Health Support Builds Better Lives for Mothers and Babies USAID Impact Blog, 2011

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Our Mission

Our mission is to promote policies and support programs that strengthen government primary health care and foster social, economic, and health equity for all. Our vision is a just world that promotes health and well-being, including universal access to quality health care.

Our History

Health Alliance International began in 1987 as a US-based international solidarity organization committed to supporting the public sector provision of health care for all.  Over 35 years, HAI conducted programs in 17 countries, with flagship programs in Mozambique, Côte d'Ivoire, and Timor-Leste.

Our Evolution

In line with HAI’s commitment to support and strengthen local public health leadership, as of October 2021, HAI fully transitioned global operations and active programs to locally-based, locally-led NGOs. Learn more about this shift toward local autonomy and equity in global health.

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