Timor-Leste Declared Malaria-Free by WHO

Island Nation Achieves Remarkable Health Milestone

Timor-Leste has officially been certified malaria-free by the World Health Organization (WHO), marking a significant triumph for the nation that began its dedicated fight against the disease shortly after gaining independence in 2002. This certification places Timor-Leste among 47 countries and one territory globally to have eradicated malaria transmission.

A Decades-Long Battle Conquered

The WHO’s announcement recognizes Timor-Leste’s success in interrupting the chain of indigenous malaria transmission nationwide for at least three consecutive years. This achievement culminates a remarkable journey from being a high-burden country to achieving complete elimination.

“WHO congratulates the people and government of Timor-Leste on this significant milestone. Timor-Leste’s success proves that malaria can be stopped in its tracks when strong political will, smart interventions, sustained domestic and external investment and dedicated health workers unite.”

—Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General

Timor-Leste now joins Maldives and Sri Lanka as the third country in the WHO South-East Asia region to be recognized for eliminating malaria, having been certified in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

“We did it. Malaria has been one of our most relentless enemies – silent, persistent, and deadly. We lost too many lives to a disease that should be preventable. But our health workers never gave up, our communities held strong, and our partners, like WHO, walked beside us. From 223,000 cases to zero – this elimination honours every life lost and every life now saved. We must safeguard this victory with continued vigilance and community action to prevent malaria’s re-entry,” said Dr. Élia António de Araújo dos Reis Amaral, SH, Minister of Health, Government of Timor-Leste.

Strategic Interventions Drive Success

Since its independence, Timor-Leste has seen a dramatic reduction in malaria cases, plummeting from a peak of over 223,000 clinically diagnosed cases in 2006 to zero indigenous cases from 2021 onwards. This success is largely attributed to the Ministry of Health’s foresight in establishing the National Malaria Programme in 2003.

The program, initially staffed by just two full-time officers, laid a crucial foundation for progress through strong leadership and meticulous planning. Key interventions included the introduction of rapid diagnostic tests and artemisinin-based combination therapy into national treatment guidelines, alongside the widespread distribution of insecticide-treated nets.

Further bolstering these efforts, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria supported nationwide vector control measures in 2009, including expanded indoor residual spraying and the distribution of long-lasting insecticide-treated nets. Malaria diagnosis was also enhanced through microscopy and rapid diagnostic tests at all health posts.

Despite facing severe shortages of healthcare professionals, Timor-Leste invested in its three-tier health system, ensuring most residents have access to care within an hour’s walk. The government’s commitment to free universal healthcare further facilitated access, with monthly mobile clinics and community outreach programs bolstering services in rural areas.

This achievement underscores the critical role of national leadership and robust collaboration among the Ministry of Health, WHO, local communities, NGOs, donors, and various government sectors. An integrated case-based surveillance system ensures prompt data collection and response, with trained health workers playing a vital role in case detection, particularly at borders.

“Timor-Leste’s malaria-free certification is a defining national triumph – driven by bold leadership, tireless efforts of health workers, and the resolve of its people. As a young nation, Timor-Leste stayed focused – testing, treating, and investigating swiftly. Ending transmission and maintaining zero deaths takes more than science; it takes grit. This victory protects generations, present and future, and shows what a determined country can achieve,” said Dr. Arvind Mathur, WHO Representative to Timor-Leste.

Globally, the burden of malaria remains significant, with the WHO estimating 249 million cases and 608,000 deaths in 2022, the majority occurring in Africa. Timor-Leste’s success offers a powerful model for other nations striving to eliminate this preventable disease.