Program aims:

STRONG TL will strengthen communicable disease surveillance and control in Timor-Leste and evaluate the impact of improved surveillance on health system and health security policy responsiveness. Development of local capacity in selected sentinel sites will deliver sustainable and ongoing improvements to the health system. In country implementation of feasible, evidence-based, health policy and practice guidelines will further strengthen health security, improve health outcomes and assist Timor-Leste in meeting its obligations under International Health Regulations.

The aims of the program are to:

  • Understand how improved capacity for clinical and laboratory based communicable disease surveillance in Timor-Leste can rapidly identify and report on shifts in epidemiology and emerging threats
  • Improve health service delivery through implementation of evidence-based national guidelines for public health and clinical responses to key infectious diseases and antimicrobial resistance
  • Promote collaboration and training in health systems and operational research in Timor-Leste and Northern Australia
Please watch this video for a fantastic summary of our STRONG-TL project in Timor-Leste.
 
Chief investigator:
Co-investigators
Associate investigators
Program dates: 
  • July 2018 - June 2021
Funders:

Collaborators:
Australian partners:
Menzies School of Health Research Darwin Lead organisation
Australian National University (ANU) Canberra Support for field epidemiology training and the Master of Philosophy in Applied Epidemiology
University of Sydney (USyd) Sydney Support for laboratory capacity building activities
Northern Territory Centre for Disease Control (NT CDC) Darwin Support for surveillance and communicable disease control training and mentoring
Royal Darwin Hospital (RDH) Darwin Support for laboratory capacity building and mentoring

 

 
 
International partners:
Timor-Leste Ministry of Health Government Dili, Timor-Leste Implementation of communicable disease surveillance and control activities, through its communicable disease control and surveillance departments. Throughout the project, MoH surveillance staff will recieve training to improve their capacity to deliver effective disease surveillance and control. 
National Health Laboratory (NHL) Health services Dili, Timor-Leste Implementation of diagnostic microbiology components of the project in Timor-Leste. 
Hospital Nacional Guido Valadares (HNGV) Health services Dili, Timor-Leste Implementation of disease surveillance activities as a key sentinel site. 
Maluk Timor  Health services Dili, Timor-Leste Implementation of capacity building activities, supervision of project staff and coordination of in-country logistics in Timor-Leste. 
University Nacional Timor Lo'rosae (UNTL) University Dili, Timor-Leste Support for training activities and identification of suitable candidates for higher degree research scholarships. 
Instituto Nacional de Saude (INS) University Dili, Timor-Leste Support for training activities and research strategy development and administration in Timor-Leste. 
World Health Organisation (WHO) United Nations Dili, Timor-Leste Support for training activities and coordination of STRONG TL activities with national and international public health priorities. 
  1. menzies ho governu TL prefere alkansa saude neebe diak ba povu

    menzies ho governu TL prefere alkansa saude neebe diak ba povu

    Date

  2. MEDIA RELEASE I Collaboration is key: Menzies Timor-Leste office celebrates fourth anniversary

    MEDIA RELEASE I Collaboration is key: Menzies Timor-Leste office celebrates fourth anniversary

    Date

    The ongoing focus on collaboration by Menzies School of Research (Menzies) to sustainably building healthcare systems and health leadership capacity in Timor-Leste is being celebrated.

  3. KOMUNIKADU IMPRENSA | Kolaborasaun mak xave: Eskritóriu Menzies Timor-Leste selebra aniversáriu da-haat

    KOMUNIKADU IMPRENSA | Kolaborasaun mak xave: Eskritóriu Menzies Timor-Leste selebra aniversáriu da-haat

    Date

    Foku kontinua ba kolaborasaun husi Menzies School of Research (Menzies) atu harii sistema saúde sustentavel no kapasidade lideransa saúde nian iha Timor-Leste selebra hela.

  4. 4 Tahun Menzies Hadir Di Timor Leste

    4 Tahun Menzies Hadir Di Timor Leste

    Date

    Menzies School of Research (Menzies) yang hadir di Timor Leste untuk membangun sistem perawatan kesehatan dan kapasitas kepemimpinan kesehatan secara berkelanjutan merayakan Hari Ulang Tahun (HUT) ke-4 pada Selasa (12/9/2023).

  5. Menzies-MAPPF perbarui kerjasama atasi penyakit zoonosis di timor leste

    Menzies-MAPPF perbarui kerjasama atasi penyakit zoonosis di timor leste

    Date

  6. MEDIA RELEASE | Menzies renews MoU with Timor-Leste Ministry of Health

    MEDIA RELEASE | Menzies renews MoU with Timor-Leste Ministry of Health

    Date

    An important partnership in the work to improve public health in Timor-Leste has been strengthened with Menzies and the Timor-Leste Ministry of Health signing a new Memorandum of Understanding .

  7. Komunikadu Imprensa | Menzies renova MoU ho Ministeriu Saúde Timor-Leste

    Komunikadu Imprensa | Menzies renova MoU ho Ministeriu Saúde Timor-Leste

    Date

    Fortalese ona parseria importante ida iha servisu nian hodi hadi'a saúde públiku iha Timor-Leste ho Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies) no Ministériu Saúde Timor-Leste (MDS) asina ona Memorandu de Entendimentu (MoU) foun ida.

  8. MoH-MoAF-Menzies: “One Health” crucial for achieving optimal health outcomes in TL

    MoH-MoAF-Menzies: “One Health” crucial for achieving optimal health outcomes in TL

    Date

    DILI, 14 december 2021 (TATOLI) – The Ministry of Health (MoH) and Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MoAF), together with Menzies – School of Health Research held a one-day symposium, in Timor-Leste

  9. Tatoli | Menzies launch seroprevalance study to describe the extent of immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases

    Tatoli | Menzies launch seroprevalance study to describe the extent of immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases

    Date

    Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies), revealed Covid-19 Vaccination is a very important strategy in Timor-Leste, for protecting people against diseases Measles, Rubella, Hepatitis B, and Dengue epidemiology in Timor-Leste.

  10. CGM SCHUYLAB | CASE STUDY

    CGM SCHUYLAB | CASE STUDY

    Date

    As the newly independent nation of Timor-Leste takes on the challenges of establishing a strong health system for its citizens, Menzies School of Health Research has assisted Timorese scientists and healthcare professionals in expanding their laboratory diagnostic possibilities.

  11. Fortalese Sistema Saúde Iha Timor Leste

    Fortalese Sistema Saúde Iha Timor Leste

    Date

    Ohin loron, marka tinan rua dezde Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies) ofisialmente estabelese nia eskritóriu ida iha Timor-Leste.

  12. Menzies Affirm To Work Closely With TL Ministry Of Health Strengthening Health Systems

    Menzies Affirm To Work Closely With TL Ministry Of Health Strengthening Health Systems

    Date

    Yesterday marks two years since Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies) officially established an office in Timor-Leste and comitted to work with the Timor-Leste Government and partners to strengthen health systems for responding to infectious diseases challenges.

  13. Modern lab software improves healthcare in Timor-Leste

    Modern lab software improves healthcare in Timor-Leste

    Date

    As the newly independent nation of Timor-Leste takes on the challenges of establishing a strong health system for its citizens, Menzies School of Health Research has assisted Timorese scientists and healthcare professionals in expanding their laboratory diagnostic possibilities.

  14. Menzies Marka Tinan Rua Fortalese sistema saúde iha Timor-Leste

    Menzies Marka Tinan Rua Fortalese sistema saúde iha Timor-Leste

    Date

  15. Prezensa Menzies Hodi Fortalese Sistema Saúde iha Timor-Leste

    Prezensa Menzies Hodi Fortalese Sistema Saúde iha Timor-Leste

    Date

    Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies) ohin Segunda (13/9/2021) kompleta nia tinan rua ba estabelese nia eskritóriu iha Timor-Leste ho nia objetivu hodi fortalese Sistema saude iha Timor-Leste.

  16. Menzies mantém cooperação com Governo para fortalecer sistema de saúde timorense

    Menzies mantém cooperação com Governo para fortalecer sistema de saúde timorense

    Date

  17. Strengthening health systems in Timor-Leste

    Strengthening health systems in Timor-Leste

    Date

    Today, marks two years since Menzies officially established an office in Timor-Leste, working with the Timor-Leste Government and partners to strengthen health systems for responding to infectious diseases challenges.

  18. Menzies fortalese sistema saúde iha Timor-Leste

    Menzies fortalese sistema saúde iha Timor-Leste

    Date

  19. Thousands homeless in Timor-Leste as the country tries to contain COVID-19

    Thousands homeless in Timor-Leste as the country tries to contain COVID-19

    Date

    On RN Breakfast with Fran Kelly and guest Dr Josh Francis.

  20. Australian government to support Timor-Leste flood recovery after at least 27 people die

    Australian government to support Timor-Leste flood recovery after at least 27 people die

    Date

    Dr Francis said the national laboratory where Timor-Leste conducts COVID-19 tests had been flooded on the weekend, but workers at the facility had put in an "enormous" effort and successfully saved testing equipment and reagents by moving them above the waters.

  21. Rapid regional assistance for Pandemic Preparedness and Response Planning

    Rapid regional assistance for Pandemic Preparedness and Response Planning

    Date

    The Australian Government is working closely with partners to support a coordinated response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Pacific.

  22. Coronavirus assistance to Pacific and Timor-Leste

    Coronavirus assistance to Pacific and Timor-Leste

    Date

    Coronavirus [COVID-19] is now affecting 75 countries, with the total number of cases over 90,000 and the global death toll at more than 3000.

  23. Coronavirus assistance to Pacific and Timor-Leste

    Date

    Coronavirus [COVID-19] is now affecting 75 countries, with the total number of cases over 90,000 and the global death toll at more than 3000.

  24. Rheumatic heart disease discussed at national conference

    Rheumatic heart disease discussed at national conference

    Date

    Menzies School of Health Research senior research fellow Josh Francis said there was positive news when it came to RHD “in the sense that there’s a really good plan coming together”.

  25. How we can end TB by 2030

    How we can end TB by 2030

    Date

    A regional research collaboration with the Menzies School of Health Research has been highly productive in building capacity in PNG and Indonesia,.

  26. Supporting TB health systems

    Supporting TB health systems

    Date

    This research was conducted as part of several initiatives led by a Menzies-Burnet regional consortium in partnership with institutions in Indonesia and PNG.

  27. Stronger Systems for Health Security Applied Research Grants

    Stronger Systems for Health Security Applied Research Grants

    Date

  1. Nevio Sarmento, Endang Soares da Silva, Ismael Barreto, João C. Ximenes, Julia M. Angelina, Dircia M. Correia, Silvia M. Babo, Ari Jayanti P. Tilman, Antonio Salles de Sousa, Elisabeth Hornay, Lourenço C. Ico, Filipe de Neri Machado, Maria Varela Niha, Susan Ballard, Chantel Lin, Benjamin Howden, Rob Baird, Johanna Wapling, Lucsendar Alves, Tessa Oakley, Ian Marr, Anthony D. K. Draper, Paul Arkell, Heidi Smith-Vaughan, Nicholas S. S. Fancourt, Jennifer Yan, and Joshua R. Francis (2023) The COVID-19 laboratory response in Timor-Leste; a story of collaboration, The Lancet Regional Health - Southeast Asia 2023;11: 100150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lansea.2023.100150
  2. Nevio Sarmento, Tessa Oakley, Endang Soares da Silva, Ari Tilman, Merita Monteiro, Lucsendar Alves, Ismael Barreto, Ian Marr, Anthony D. K. Draper, Gloria de Castro Hall, Jennifer Yan and Joshua R. Francis, 2022, Strong relationships between the Northern Territory of Australia and Timor-Leste, Microbiology Australia, https://doi.org/10.1071/MA22039
  3. Korte, L., Bowen, A.C., Draper, A., Davis, K., Applebe, A., Da Silva Almeida, I., Do Rosario, I., Dingle, B. & Francis, J.R. (2018). Scabies and impetigo in Timor-Leste: a school screening study in two districts. PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases, 12(5): e0006400.
  4. Davis, K., Remenyi, B., Draper, A., Dos Santos, J., Bayley, N., Paratz, E., Reeves, B., Appelbe, A., Cochrane, A., Johnson, T., Korte, L., Do Rosario, I., Da Silva Almeida, I., Roberts, K., Carapetis, J. & Francis, J.R. (2018). High prevalence of rheumatic heart disease in school students in Timor-Leste: an echocardiography-based prevalence study. Medical Journal of Australia, 208(7): 303-307.
  5. Marr, I., Sarmento, N., O’Brien, M., Lee, K., Gusmao, C., de Castro, G., Janson, S., Tong, S.Y.C., Baird, R.W. & Francis, J.R. (2017). Antimicrobial resistance in urine and skin isolates in Timor-Leste. Journal of Global Antimicrobial Resistance, 13: 135-138.
  6. Tebano, G., La Martire, G., Sarmento, N. & Francis, J.R. (2018). Antibiotic resistance in Timor-Leste: a systematic review of evidence. Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, 73(4): 1110-1111.