Next phase of Timor Leste nursing program
16 Jun 2022
A new plan outlining the third phase of the Nursing Development Program facilitated by St John of God Social Outreach’s international health team was launched in early June and has a heavy emphasis on programs led and operated by Timorese healthcare leaders.
The team was privileged to have the Timorese Minister for Health, Her Excellency Dr Odete Maria Freitas Belo, launch the plan at a ceremony in Dili attended by international health caregivers, Service Director Anthea Ramos and St John of God Social Outreach Chief Executive Officer Susan Cantwell.
The new plan was developed following extensive consultation, co-design and alignment with the country’s Ministry of Health and other stakeholders, and was launched in three languages - English, Tetun and Portugese – to ensure maximum accessibility.
Developing capacity for 12 years
The Nursing Development Program has been delivered by St John of God Social Outreach since 2010, in partnership with the country’s Ministry of Health. It is aimed at improving the quality of patient care across hospitals in Timor-Leste and centred around the major teaching hospital in Dili.
Since its inception, the program has developed the capacity of healthcare workers and leaders via role modelling, a focus on clinical mentoring and support, and on addressing the health systems.
Phase three of the plan details how the program will this time focus on four tenets: nursing and midwifery professionalism, leadership and governance, quality and standards, and learning and development.
The new plan spans 2022 to 2025. It builds on the first and second Nursing Development Program plans, which focussed on working alongside Timorese nurses and midwives on the wards, and addressing health systems, respectively.
St John of God Health Care’s work in Timor-Leste is proudly supported by Santos and the Bayu-Undan joint venture.
Photo captions:
- Photo 1 (top): Timorese Minister for Health, Her Excellency Dr Odete Maria Freitas Belo (left), with St John of God Social Outreach representatives (from left) Service Director Anthea Ramos, CEO Susan Cantwell and Country Manager Dr Lourenco Camnahas at the launch of the Nursing Development Program (Phase Three).
- Pic 2 (middle): Event MC Angela Pinto comes face to face with her picture on the team’s banner.
- Pic 3 (below): The document was launched in three languages, including Tetun, one of the two official languages of Timor-Leste.
