Timor Crisis

Bairo Pite Clinic (BPC) is a primary health facility in Timor Leste that offers free health care to over 400 patients each day. Bairo Pite Clinic provides a comprehensive health service that includes primary health care, outreach mobile health services, women’s health, volunteer training, and community health education.

The Clinic’s beginnings

Originally, the clinic was set up by Dr Daniel Murphy to serve the immediate needs of the population affected by the humanitarian crisis in 1999. As the violence has subsided, BPC has adapted and transformed from an emergency medical service to a comprehensive community health service.

The Clinic today

Today BPC remains one of the most highly visited health clinics in the country, seeing an average of 400 patients per day served by thirty-five Timorese staff and three permanent international volunteers. During 2005 there were 99 009 general consultations, 5478 maternity consultations, 2728 babies and 2193 mothers immunized, 4 222 people received dental care and 1 001 were admitted as inpatients.  BPC addresses the most serious health problems faced in Timor-Leste including TB, Malaria, and maternal and child mortality.

Aid International Missions (AIM)

Bairo Pite Pathology

In early 2000 soon after the cessation of major hostilities in East Timor, a full working pathology laboratory was built at Bairo Pite Clinic. The first such civilian diagnostic laboratory to operate after the destruction of Dili. The laboratory was built by a combination of NGOs including Outreach to East Timor, AFAP, AMI France and donations from individual members of the Australian Defence Force.

Peter Hind and Graeme Houghton of Aid International Missions (AIM) returned to Timor on 6 March 2006 with about $200,000.00 worth of donated equipment and supplies. The laboratory has been completely rebuilt and rewired including the addition of two air-conditioners, twelve power-points, six ceiling spot lights and two fluorescent lights. The laboratory is now repainted and well lit. Additionally, the remaining wooden benches have been tiled.  For further information visit http://members.optusnet.com.au/aimissions/

The need for financial support

Of the thirty-five East Timorese nursing and support staff, only a few are funded by the Ministry of Health. Funding is needed continuously to support staff training, services the Clinic provides, an operating vehicle and other operational expenses including water and electricity.

For donations in Australia please contact:

The Australian Foundation for the Peoples of Asia and the Pacific

PO Box 12, Crows Nest 1585 NSW                

TEL: 1800 007 308

www.afap.org