HISTORY

The internal unrest in Timor Leste that has occurred since 28 April 2006 and that continues to the present and reinforced the fact that the country continues to need international support. Since 14th of June – 30th of August FHTO (Loving Timor Leste Children Foundation) was very fortunate to have the Malaysian contingent led by Col Ismet Nayan bin Ismail, protecting the children. Twelve Malaysian army personnel resided in FHTO for three and a half months. Then not only gave us protection, they also provided health services to the children and they renovated the house. Now FHTO has a library which called MALCON library. As a result both the visit of the Let. Gen Dato Shahron and of the efforts of the commander Col Ismet Nayan , following the departure of MALCON, FHTO continues to be protected by the Malaysian Police .Whilst in Timor Leste the Malaysian Army Medical staff identified 3 children from FHTO needing urgent surgery and other 4 children need close observation. Marciela Branco and her sister Graciela have both been diagnosed with A.I.S (scoliosis). In addition they identified that the children’s supervisor, Madalena Fernandes who was already hospitalized in the Malaysian Army Clinic in Timor Leste, needs further specialist hospital treatment. Madalena, who has been so loyal to the children over the years, exposing herself to dangerous situations when we needed to search for food for the children has since been diagnosed as having Crytococcal meningitis , Systmenatic Lupus Erythemotosis and suspected Tuberculosis. The National Hospital of Timor Leste has neither specialist doctors nor facilities for these illnesses. As a small non profit organisation FHTO does not have the necessary financial resources to fund medical attention overseas. Even the best support from MALCON Timor Leste, we still waited against the time as the medical condition of two of the patients worsened and they became very ill.Finally we had no choice but to take the decision to use what ever resources we had available to us and with the support of MALCON, founder’s family and friend of FHTO sent the three most urgent cases . Marciela and Madalena were admitted to HUKM( Hospital Universitas Kebangsaan Malaysia) where they were being treated Marciela has also been treated for Tuberculosis. They had been in Kuala Lumpur 4 monthsUnfortunately there are few kids was left behind in Timor Leste as FHTO could not afford to finance them. Only this time we secured funding to send them (Melina, Marcia, Maria and Melino) to Malaysia for their treatment however the cost of the treatment stills an ongoing problem.Friends of FHTO are in the process of raising funds to contribute towards the medical cost of our FHTO family in Malaka/ Putra Hospital. One friend Peter Whrathal has agreed to find the funding required paying for any shortfall in the costs of drugs, and prosthesis for the 4 additional patients Melina, Marcia, Maria and Melino.Since 14 February, Valentine day, now 15 Timor Leste children/ youths residing in Malacca for Medical reason and education. However the illnesses of these children are very serious and need ongoing treatment, the cost of the treatments and drugs are not consolable. That now we need additional support from other individual or organization to support these children.