Government of Timor-Leste

On the sidelines of the 79th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia, held in Dili, the Ministry of Health and the National Leprosy Mission Foundation of Timor-Leste (ML-TL) signed, on September 8^th, 2026, a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at strengthening cooperation in the prevention, early detection, treatment, and control of leprosy in Timor-Leste.

The signing of the Memorandum was witnessed by the Minister of Health, Élia A. A. dos Reis Amaral, and the Minister of Social Solidarity and Inclusion, Verónica das Dores.

The agreement sets out the framework for carrying out the Leprosy Mission’s activities and programmes in coordination with the Ministry of Health and for integrating them into the Integrated Health Programme, in accordance with the National Health Sector Strategic Plan.

The cooperation aims to improve access to healthcare services for people affected by leprosy, particularly in vulnerable communities, and to strengthen early detection and treatment to prevent complications and disability associated with the disease.

The Memorandum also sets out measures to raise community awareness of leprosy prevention and to combat stigma and discrimination, as well as support for the rehabilitation and social reintegration of those affected.

As part of this cooperation, the capacity of healthcare professionals will also be strengthened through training, guidance, and the sharing of experiences, and coordination among the Ministry of Health, the Leprosy Mission, and other partners involved in implementing disease prevention and control programmes will likewise be strengthened.

In her address, the Minister of Health emphasised the need to maintain focus on leprosy within the framework of the Government’s commitment to ensuring public access to healthcare, and highlighted the contribution of the Leprosy Mission teams’ expertise to the early identification of cases and to determining appropriate treatment.

The ceremony was also attended by senior officials from the Ministry of Health, members of the Timor-Leste Leprosy Mission Board, departmental heads, and other representatives of the entities involved.