Dili: Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus met with the WHO Timor-Leste team on Monday morning, marking the first visit by a WHO Director-General to the country.
Dr Tedros was in Dili to attend the Seventy-ninth Session of the WHO Regional Committee for South-East Asia, which Timor-Leste is hosting for the first time in 11 years. Ahead of the Regional Committee's opening, he took time to meet and interact with staff at the WHO Country Office.
He arrived at the WHO Country Office in Caicoli accompanied by Dr Nilesh Buddha, Officer-in-Charge of the WHO South-East Asia Region, who was also visiting Timor-Leste for the first time. WHO Representative Dr Arvind Mathur and UN Resident Coordinator Funmi Balogun welcomed them, alongside staff members, some dressed in traditional attire.
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WHO DG and OIC welcomed by staff at the WHO Country Office. @WHO Timor-Leste
Held in the Kofi Annan Room of the UN compound, the meeting was an opportunity for an open conversation on WHO's work, leadership, public health and life beyond the Organization./countries/timor-leste/dsc04788-2-2.jpg?sfvrsn=a0ee1c77_2 "DSC04788-2-2")
WHO DG Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, UN Resident Coordinator Funmi Balogun, OIC Dr Nilesh Buddha, and WR Dr Arvind Mathur head to Kofi Annan Room. @WHO Timor-Leste
Asked what he found most encouraging about South-East Asia, Dr Tedros highlighted the Region's progress in disease elimination. “This region has the largest number of eliminations,” he said. Recognising Timor-Leste's contribution to these achievements, he encouraged staff to measure the impact of their work through tangible results, particularly lives saved and people living longer, healthier lives.
/countries/timor-leste/the-dg-congratulated-timor-leste-and-the-who-timor-leste-workforce-for-supporting-the-ministry-of-health-in-eliminating-trachoma-as-a-public-health-problem.jpg?sfvrsn=9a12ad39_2 "The DG congratulated Timor-Leste and the WHO Timor-Leste workforce for supporting the Ministry of Health in eliminating trachoma as a public health problem.")
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DG and OIC deliver speeches in the Kofi Annan Room. @WHO Timor-Leste
The conversation also touched on broader questions, including longevity. Dr Tedros explained that life expectancy tends to rise rapidly from a low base, with progress slowing as countries reach higher levels. Further gains, he noted, would depend on scientific advances. “In another sense, lives also continue through children and grandchildren,” he added.
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Sharing his own experience, Dr Buddha recalled beginning his WHO career on a short-term contract and encouraged staff to keep progressing, regardless of where they start.
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Closing the meeting, Dr Mathur said the visit held special significance for a small country office serving one of the world's youngest nations. He noted that Dr Tedros's presence at the Regional Committee had boosted morale among WHO colleagues and partners across Timor-Leste.
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