President Sr Jose Ramos Horta visited KD in December 2023 and sponsored a lunch for the KD Tuberculosis (TB) residents. The President and Sr Joaquim had discussions about KD’s programs and the role that KD plays to support the National Hospital in Dili. The President said that he was very happy with the programs at KD that are helping patients and people with disabilities.

With the last of the monies from the Flood Appeal, which was bolstered by a grant from a UK charity, the gabion (stone) cage wall has been extended at the eastern end of the KD compound. The gabion cage’s purpose is to give protection from flooding to the KD compound during the wet season.

There were 40 resident patients with 15 carers and/or family members with them for support whilst they were recovering giving a total of 55 in residence. There were 20 TB resident patients being cared for at KD. Sadly TB is on the rise in Timor-Leste as well as deaths from this disease. Timor-Leste is in the high bracket in the Asia Pacific region as noted in the WHO TB Timor-Leste Report November 2023. Sr Joaquim said that ‘TB is a disease of the poor caused by poverty.’ Uma Garton has twelve secondary students with disabilities. They attend Immaculate Heart of Mary School in Tibar

Di Hadden in conversation with Sr Joaquim Soares