The Flinders Overseas Health Group is a charity organisation providing assistance in the health sector in the Eastern Indonesian province of Nusa Tenggara Timur (NTT), which includes West Timor. The people here live in poverty, suffer from malnutrition, have limited education and an inadequate health system.

A group of concerned doctors, nurses and allied health workers from all over Australia have formed Flinders Overseas Health Group (FOHG) and have been visiting there for 14 years.

Initial visits to NTT were by general surgical teams only, but have now expanded to involve teams working in paediatrics, infectious diseases, general practice, obstetrics and gynaecology, internal medicine, dermatology, midwifery and nursing. FOHG is sending teams on 10 visits to two locations, Kefamenanu in West Timor and Ende in Flores, now with a plan to start visits to another location in 2010.

Each visit comprises of teams up to 6 members who pay all expenses to get themselves to Indonesia, but once there, are supported wholly by the local and provincial governments. As time goes by, we are finding the smaller teams are more intensive and effective.

The main aim of the visits is to teach and upskill the local staff, aiming at self sufficiency. This is done by a combination of formal teaching and clinical mentoring.

In order to continue making significant contributions to the improved health care in our nearest neighbours in Nusa Tenggara Timur, FOHG relies on vital public support. To make a donation to the Flinders Overseas Health Group please click here.