The Minister of Health of Timor-Leste, Élia dos Reis Amaral, today received the award for recognition for results in public health of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the elimination of trachoma in the country, the Timorese Government announced.
© Lusa
08/09/2026
by
Lusa
O the prize was delivered at the 79th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Southeast Asia, which runs in Dili until Thursday.
The WHO announced on September 3 the elimination of trachoma, the main infectious cause of blindness in the world, as a public health problem in East Timor, after a process of several years.
With the validation of East Timor, trachoma is no longer a public health problem throughout the WHO Southeast Asian region.
Timor-Leste is now able to manage and combat trachoma disease through its ophthalmological care system, and specialized services are available at the National Centre for Ophthalmology at Guido Valadares National Hospital in Dili, as well as disease sensitivity programs in the different regions of the country.