Maria Auxiliadora Clinic

51 children per 1,000 births die before age 5 in TimorLeste*

1 year project duration

24 schools will be supported by this project

With a population of 16,000, the town of Venilale is located a 151 km drive east of Dili, the capital of Timor Leste. Across the country there are only 0.8 physicians per 1,000 patients, compared to 3.8 per 1,000 in Australia. While access to healthcare in Timor Leste has increased over recent years, many rural communities still seek basic services*.

This project supports the work of the Salesian Sisters at the Maria Auxiliadora Clinic. The clinic has been a service to the community for many years, the Sisters have now built trust and are in a prime position to provide care to those most disadvantaged.

It seeks to improve the health of young people in the surrounding community across all levels including biological, psychological, sociological, and cultural health, plus help them gain greater knowledge of how they themselves can manage health in preventative ways. A key part of the project focuses on running a nutrition program which will be an expansion of the current schools services. It will be carried out in schools, for students aged 5 to 14 years, across the Venilale area.

Funding needed: AUD $108,812

Partner profile

The Congregation of the Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco, was founded in Mornese, Italy in August 1872 by St. John Bosco and St. Mary Mazzarella. Since then, they have expanded their care and support to many other parts of the world, including Timor-Leste in 1988. Their mission focuses on the integral education of young people in communities in need.

Your support can help:

• Children in Timor-Leste to continue developing positive eating and physical activity behaviours that affect their current and future states of health

• Communities in Venilale increase their understanding of health

• Provide salaries to local doctors and nurses.