Timor-Leste’s Minister of Health, Élia A.A. dos Reis Amaral, is taking part in the 77th Session of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Committee for Southeast Asia, which is taking place in New Delhi, India, from October 7th to 9th, 2024. The session brings together health ministers and delegations from 11 member countries in the region, including Timor-Leste, to discuss priorities and key actions to accelerate progress in public health. 
During the session, Minister Élia dos Reis Amaral, who serves as one of the panel’s Vice-Presidents, highlighted Timor-Leste’s efforts to promote the General Health Programme 2025-2028 and the Budget Proposal 2026-2027, stressing the importance of regional collaboration to tackle public health challenges more effectively and collaboratively. The Minister called for strengthening partnerships between countries in the region, with a view to joint solutions to global health challenges. 
One of the most significant milestones celebrated during this session was the certification of Timor-Leste by the WHO for the elimination of Lymphatic Filariasis, making the country the fifth in the region to achieve this feat. This milestone reflects almost two decades of continuous efforts, with multiple public health strategies and interventions, and represents a victory in the fight against this debilitating disease. 
The 77th Session of the WHO Regional Committee for Southeast Asia is a platform for debate on the region’s public health issues. The conference brings together representatives from Bangladesh, Bhutan, North Korea, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste.
India’s Health Minister, JP Nadda, was elected Chair of the session, which will culminate in new guidelines and joint commitments to improve public health in the region.