Dili: Vice Prime Minister of Timor-Leste Mariano Assanami Sabino opened the two-day Health Expo in Dili on Tuesday to mark the 10th National Health Day, urging for stronger, united action to build a health system that serves all citizens with dignity and equity.
The event, jointly organised by the Ministry of Health, WHO Timor-Leste, and other development partners, showcased the country’s achievements in health service delivery and its commitment to strengthening prevention and community-based care.
The day began with a Marcha Saudável (Health March) from the Ministry of Health to Ponte BJ Habibie. Accompanied by the beat of drums, the walk turned into a vibrant display of public solidarity for health. The march was officially flagged off by Vice Minister for Institutional Strengthening of Health, José dos Reis Magno, and joined by Dr Arvind Mathur, WHO Representative in Timor-Leste, along with Director Generals, Ministry of Health staff, and frontline health workers.
Visitors to the Health Expo at Ponte BJ Habibie were greeted by a lively display of 15 interactive stalls, set up by the Ministry of Health, its affiliated institutions like SNEAM, and partner organisations including Plan International, Australian Aid, and Maluk Timor. Each stall offered a hands-on glimpse into the country's progress in vital health areas—from nutrition and maternal care to tackling non-communicable diseases and controlling malaria.
Attendees could get their blood pressure checked, have a vision screening, and speak directly with health workers, turning the expo into a space where awareness met real-time care.
Speaking at the opening, Vice Prime Minister Assanami Sabino emphasised that health must be seen as integrated into every part of national development, not as a standalone issue. “We must mobilise and organise ourselves to end this ongoing struggle for better healthcare,” he said.
He stressed that Timor-Leste deserves hospitals and health facilities on par with countries like Malaysia, Singapore, or Indonesia. “It should never happen that an ambassador—or any citizen—has to be flown abroad for treatment because we don’t have the capacity here,” he added, calling for urgent improvements in leadership, financing, infrastructure, and human resource development.
The Vice Prime Minister also urged to seize the arrival of fibre optic infrastructure to accelerate digital transformation in health, especially in tackling diseases such as cancer and heart diseases that currently cannot be optimally treated within the country. He further highlighted the importance of maintaining what already exists. “We must improve not just for our people, but also for our visitors—so the world sees Timor-Leste as a healthy and safe nation,” he said.
Dr Mathur, WHO Representative, called the 10th National Health Day both a celebration and a moment for reflection. “WHO is proud to walk alongside the Ministry of Health in this journey, particularly through its flagship initiative—Programa Integrado de Saúde (PIS),” he said.
“PIS is not just a programme; it is a vision for community-centered health care—a vision where prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up are all delivered as one integrated continuum of care.” He highlighted the country’s progress in disease elimination, including the eradication of lymphatic filariasis and the near elimination of malaria.
Vice Minister of Health Dr Flavio Brandao echoed the call for commitment and compassion in health services. He reminded health workers to treat their work as a vocation, not merely a job. “Whether we are health personnel or directors, we must serve with humility and never place ourselves above patients,” he said.
Dr Brandao also reinforced the importance of the PIS as the way forward in bringing health closer to every household and encouraged all attendees to visit the exhibition to learn more about the Ministry’s work with its partners.