Along with the challenge of nation building, East Timor government has identified health as being among the most crucial in its National Development Plan. Timorese have a low level of health awareness and suffer from a health care system with limited resources and technical skills.

HIV and AIDS is acknowledged as having the potential to have devastating effects on the people of East Timor as they become exposed to the rest of the world. The government has given increasing attention to HIV and AIDS as various behavioral and serological data from vulnerable sub-populations reveal the potential for a concentrated epidemic.

The HIV prevalence is generally estimated to be between 0,01 – 0,35% but reasons to be concerned are found in the high levels of STI in certain risk groups, e.g. Female Sex Workers (FSW) and Men who have sex with Men (MSM) has genital herpes. Less than 50% of young urban men use a condom during sexual contact with their non-stable partner. The first HIV and AIDS case in Timor Leste was detected in 2001. Forty three cases of the disease were confirmed in 2007. In addition, STIs (Sexually Transmitted Infections) are common in sexually active age groups. Many STI cases per week were reported mostly in Dili and Baucau Districts.

Church World Service East Timor has been implementing HIV and AIDS programs since 2003 through an integrated approach, drawing upon expertise and networksand utilizing three primary strategies: education/ advocacy, capacity building of local partners, and services for prevention, care and treatment. In 2005 CWS received a funding from ICCO-Kerk in Actie to implement an HIV and AIDS Support Program that focuses on combating HIV and AIDS together with the Ministry of Health, local partners and community members.  This program is still ongoing and expected to complete in late 2011.


The HIV and AIDS Support program aims to address the need for increased local and community capacity to respond to HIV in East Timor and to reduce vulnerability of Timorese people to HIV. Targeting on general population, it provides direct technical support and capacity building as well as relevant materials to specifically meet the needs of East Timorese community.

In achieving the goal of the program, Church World Service involves faith-based organizations and religious leaders, youth and people living with HIV (PLWH). The latter is managed under the umbrella of Esperanza Group Management, a group of PLWH established under the program. The activities include workshops, info session, campaign, World AIDS Day and Candlelight Memorial commemoration and establishment of peer education group for youth as well as capacity building for PLWH.