Timor-Leste Hearts Fund

03/06/2026

💙 A life-changing journey made possible through partnership

We’re delighted to share that two patients from Timor-Leste, Susisusanti and Juliana, have successfully undergone life-saving heart surgery in Australia — made possible through the generosity of our donors and the dedication of our volunteers and partners.

This achievement highlights the power of global collaboration in delivering specialist cardiac care. Through our partnerships with Hospital Nacional Guido Valadares (HNGV) in Dili, the Ministry of Health in Timor-Leste, Eastern Heart Clinic (EHC), and Prince of Wales Private Hospital (PoWPH) in Sydney, these procedures were able to take place.

Both patients have now safely returned home and are recovering well — a testament to the commitment and care of everyone involved.

We extend our sincere thanks to our volunteer cardiologists, Dr Virag Kushwaha, Dr Simon Eggleton, and our Medical Director Dr Alan Appelbe, whose expertise and generosity made these surgeries possible.

We are also deeply grateful to our Timorese medical partners in Dili, Cardiologists Dr Herculano Seixas, Dr Claudia Magno and the entire Cardiology team at HNGV, for their ongoing support in preparing patients for their journey.

A special thank you to Dr Claudia and Sidonia for accompanying and supporting the patients throughout their time in Australia, ensuring they were cared for every step of the way.

This story is a powerful reminder of what can be achieved through teamwork, compassion, and international partnership. ❤️


Hospital Nacional Guido Valadares - HNGV Eastern Heart Clinic Nico Seixas Prince Of Wales Private Hospital Claudia Natalicia Magno Sidónia Lucinda Palácio das Cinzas Jane Williams

08/05/2026

💛 Week 2: Expanding collaboration from Dili to Baucau

In the second week of our visit, Timor-Leste Hearts Fund, alongside Pfizer’s Global Health Fellows Program, continued engagement with partners in Dili and travelled to the Baucau regional hospital (HoREX), to gain deeper insight into regional perspectives on cardiac care.

Through meetings with local healthcare providers and stakeholders, discussions focused on the challenges and opportunities in capturing and sharing clinical data beyond the capital — and how services can be strengthened to support more equitable access across Timor-Leste.

We were also pleased to connect with key partners including the World Health Organisation (WHO), Maluk Timor, Menzies School of Health Research and Australian Volunteers Program.

Across both weeks, a clear message emerged: sustainable impact depends on investing in local leadership, strengthening systems, and working in genuine partnership.

We are deeply grateful to all partners and clinicians who shared their expertise and welcomed us so warmly.

A special thank you to the Pfizer Global Health Fellows Program team — Dr Daniel Cheong, Dr Elizabeth Chang, Dr Wangyue Lui, and Dr Laura Duvall. It was a genuine pleasure to have them with us throughout this visit, and we are proud to continue building such a strong and valued partnership together.

Together, we are building a stronger, more connected future for heart care in Timor-Leste. ❤️

Claudia Natalicia Magno Nico Seixas Palácio das Cinzas Hospital Nacional Guido Valadares - HNGV Pfizer Australia World Health Organization Timor-Leste World Health Organization (WHO) Maluk Timor Menzies School of Health Research Sidónia Lucinda Ricardo Flavio Jane Williams Australian Volunteers Program

06/05/2026

04/05/2026

04/05/2026

President of Timor-Leste Meets with Timor-Leste Hearts Fund to Advance National Heart Health Priorities.

His Excellency José Ramos-Horta today met with Timor-Leste Hearts Fund (TLHF) to continue discussions around strengthening Timor-Leste’s cardiovascular health system, with a focus on workforce development, national planning, and long-term system sustainability.

The meeting centred on TLHF’s flagship initiative, Caring for Healthy Hearts, a comprehensive program designed to support the development of a skilled and sustainable cardiac workforce. The program will deliver in-service training for cardiologists and cardiac nurses at Hospital Nacional Guido Valadares, as well as across district referral hospitals, while also contributing to national policy and planning to improve cardiovascular disease outcomes.

TLHF shared the design and strategic vision of the program, which aims to strengthen clinical capacity, support coordinated national leadership and improve access to high-quality cardiac care for communities across Timor-Leste.
President Ramos-Horta reiterated his strong support for initiatives aimed at building a resilient, locally led cardiovascular care system, and emphasised the importance of strengthening workforce capability and national coordination to address the growing burden of cardiovascular disease in Timor-Leste.

The discussion also highlighted the role of international collaboration in supporting national priorities. TLHF has recently established a pro bono partnership with Pfizer Inc. through its Global Health Fellows Program, an initiative that supports not-for-profit organisations through capacity-building efforts aimed at improving access to healthcare for underserved communities.

As part of this collaboration, a team of four Pfizer representatives is currently in Timor-Leste working alongside TLHF and Hospital Nacional Guido Valadares (HNGV), with the support of the Ministry of Health, to design and pilot a centralised hospital cardiovascular data system. This system will support improved data collection, analysis, and clinical decision-making, forming a critical component of strengthening cardiac care services.



Jane Williams Sidónia Lucinda Ricardo Flavio Claudia Natalicia Magno Pfizer Australia Palácio das Cinzas Hospital Nacional Guido Valadares - HNGV Presidência da República Democrática de Timor-Leste

04/05/2026

DILI, STLTIMORLESTE.com – Timor Leste (TL) Hearts Fund halo kolaborasaun ho Hospital Nasional Guido Valadares (HNGV) hodi haree ba moras fuan iha TL. CEO Timor Leste Hearts Fund, Jane Wiliams ba jornalista sira, bainhira remata halo enkontru ho Prezidente Republika Jose Ramos Horta iha Palasiu Pre...

03/05/2026

01/05/2026

💙 Week 1 in Dili: Strengthening partnerships

We were pleased to welcome colleagues from Pfizer’s Global Health Fellows Program from South Korea and the USA to Timor-Leste, joining TLHF CEO Jane, for a week of productive meetings in Dili.

Together, we met with key national partners including from the Ministry of Health, Vice-Minister for the Operationalisation of Hospitals Dr Flávio Brandão de Araújo, General Director for Hospital Services Dr Raimundo Dos Santos, Head of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) Dr Mateus Romiso Ornai and NCD Program Manager Dr Helder Juvinal Neto da Silva.

At Hospital Nacional Guido Valadares (HNGV) we met with the leadership and cardiology teams, including Clinical Director Dr Eligio de Sousa, Head of Internal Medicine Dr Gustavo do Rosario da Cruz and members of the Medical Association of Timor-Leste (AMTL), Dr Herculano Seixas dos Santos and Dr Claudia Magno.

These discussions focused on strengthening coordination across the health system, identifying priorities for cardiac care, and exploring opportunities to build workforce capability and improve access to diagnosis and treatment.

A key focus of the visit is a joint initiative to design and pilot a practical, centralised approach for collecting, analysing, and managing cardiovascular disease (CVD) data in Timor-Leste.

The week reinforced the importance of strong partnerships and shared commitment to improving heart health outcomes in Timor-Leste.

✨ Thank you to all our partners for your time, insight and collaboration.



Hospital Nacional Guido Valadares - HNGV Palácio das Cinzas Jane Williams Ricardo Flavio Nico Seixas Claudia Natalicia Magno
Associação dos Médicos de Timor-Leste Vice-Ministro Para a Operacionalização dos Hospitais.

10/02/2026

💙 Partner Spotlight: Dr Claudia Magno

On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we are proud to spotlight Dr Claudia Natalícia Magno (Nadia), Cardiologist at Hospital Nacional Guido Valadares (HNGV), and one of the dedicated medical leaders driving cardiac care in Timor-Leste.

Dr Claudia plays a vital role in the diagnosis, treatment and long-term management of patients with heart disease, working tirelessly to improve outcomes for individuals and families across the country. Her commitment to patient care, education and system strengthening is helping shape a stronger future for cardiac services in Timor-Leste.

Through close collaboration with Timor-Leste Hearts Fund, Dr Claudia is also contributing to the development of local capacity, clinical pathways and partnerships that ensure sustainable, life-saving heart care for years to come.

We are incredibly grateful for her leadership, expertise and unwavering dedication to healthier hearts. ❤️ Happy International Day of Women and Girls in Science!

Claudia Natalicia Magno Hospital Nacional Guido Valadares - HNGV