MATCH TL will strengthen diagnosis and surveillance of infectious diseases in Timor-Leste. It will work closely alongside the Timor-Leste Ministry of Health to improve access to, and quality of, laboratory diagnostic testing for Malaria, Tuberculosis (TB), COVID-19, and HIV (MATCH-TL).

Aims and objectives:

• To strengthen the capacity of the National Health Laboratory (NHL) to operate as a reference laboratory, offering quality assured diagnostic testing for malaria, TB, COVID-19 and HIV and opportunistic infections, using a combination of culture, serology and molecular based testing.
• To improve access to decentralised rapid diagnostic testing for TB, COVID-19 and HIV in Timor-Leste, with prompt reporting of results, in a supervised laboratory network coordinated by the NHL.
• To provide contemporary epidemiological data based on methodologically sound laboratory studies, that can be used to inform policy decisions and public health responses to malaria, TB, COVID-19 and HIV in Timor-Leste.

Chief investigators:

• Associate Professor Josh Francis
• Dr Jennifer Yan
• Nevio Sarmento
• Lucsendar Alves
• Dr Nelson Martins

Project manager:

• Julia Messner

Project dates:

The project commenced in June 2021 and is due for completion in December 2023.

Funders:

• Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)

Collaborators:

• Timor-Leste Ministry of Health
• Maluk Timor

• STRONG-TL - disease control in Timor-Leste
• Fleming Fund Country Grant to Timor-Leste
• Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and select vaccine-preventable diseases in Timor-Leste (ARIA-RISE)