Malaria control in Timor-Leste during a period of political instability: what lessons can be learned?

To examine the impact of political upheaval and population displacement in Timor-Leste (2006) on malaria in the country.Case study approach drawing on both qualitative and quantitative methods including document reviews, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions, site visits and analysis of routinely collected data.The conflict had its most profound impact on Dili, the capital city, in which tens of thousands of people were displaced from their homes. The conflict interrupted routine malaria service programs and training, but did not lead to an increase in malaria incidence. Interventions covering treatment, insecticide treated nets (ITN) distribution, vector control, surveillance and health promotion were promptly organized for internally displaced people (IDPs) and routine health services were maintained. Vector control interventions were focused on IDP camps in the city rather than on the whole community. The crisis contributed to policy change with the introduction of Rapid Diagnostic Tests and artemether-lumefantrine for treatment.Although the political crisis affected malaria programs there were no outbreaks of malaria. Emergency responses were quickly organized and beneficial long term changes in treatment and diagnosis were facilitated.Globally, malaria poses a threat to approximately 3.3 billion of the world's population with around 250 million clinical cases annually and more than 1 million deaths, mostly in children under 5 years of age [1].In April and May 2006 serious political instability and violence affected the newly independent Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. The risk of infectious diseases in conflict-affected settings is increased. Violent conflict causes population displacement and destruction of infrastructure, as well as the reduction or disruption of health services, including routine disease control programs, which can lead to outbreaks [2-5]. Additionally, the lack of clean water supplies, poor sanitation and waste management, overcr