An NGO role in support of the health sector in Timor-Leste

Purpose: Global health activists understand the need to strengthen government health systems in developing countries, but much new funding focuses on non-governmental organizations (NGOs). This paper will present the case of an NGO successfully supporting the national health system of Timor-Leste.

Methods: A US-based NGO, Health Alliance International (HAI), has worked closely with the MOH in Timor-Leste since it emerged as an independent nation in 2002. A case study combined with survey results demonstrate the benefits of close NGO-MOH collaboration in improving health system capacity.

Results: HAI has supported national and district-level MOH staff in policy formulation, strategy development, support of health workers and volunteers, monitoring of progress, and evaluation of results for Timor-Leste's maternal/newborn care and child spacing programs. Basic elements of the MOH-HAI collaboration include close links with the central MOH, support of district midwives, and testing innovations. Survey results in 2008 showed impressive health gains in program districts.

Conclusions: This collaborative effort contributes to MOH goals and allows a sharing of expertise for the benefit of the country as a whole. Key factors in this collaboration are flexibility in the NGO's work plans, responsiveness by MOH leadership to innovative contributions, and regular ongoing communication between MOH and NGO staff at all levels. Genuine progress in meeting the health care needs of the global South will require that all agencies involved in promoting health have the commitment and skills to support sustainable, national-scale programs that reach entire populations.