Dr. Filomena Guterres

Dr. Filomena Guterres is an obstetrician and gynaecologist at Hospital Nacional Guido Valadares in Dili, providing essential women's health services in Timor-Leste. With 10 years of experience, she is one of the country's specialist OB-GYN physicians working to improve maternal health outcomes in a country that has made significant progress but still faces challenges.

Timor-Leste has historically had one of the region's highest maternal mortality ratios, driven by limited access to skilled birth attendance in rural areas, malnutrition, and anaemia in pregnancy. Safe motherhood is a national priority, and Dr. Guterres's practice directly supports this goal at the national referral hospital, receiving complicated cases from across the country.

She obtained her specialist OB-GYN training through programs supported by Indonesia and Australia, and works closely with international health partners including UNFPA and Australian Aid who support maternal health capacity at HNGV. For very complex obstetric or gynecological cases beyond HNGV's management capacity, she facilitates medical referral to Indonesia or Australia.

Dr. Guterres earned her MD from the National University of Timor-Leste and completed her OB-GYN specialist training through programs supported by Indonesia and Australia, holding a Specialist Certificate in OB-GYN. She holds a Safe Motherhood Certificate from training through UNFPA and international safe motherhood programs.

Dr. Guterres manages antenatal care for routine and high-risk pregnancies including pre-eclampsia, gestational anaemia, and infections in pregnancy. She performs normal vaginal deliveries, caesarean sections, and emergency obstetric procedures including manual removal of placenta and management of postpartum haemorrhage.

In gynecology, she performs hysterectomy, management of ectopic pregnancy, ovarian cyst surgery, and cervical smear and colposcopy for cervical cancer screening.

Dr. Guterres participates in UNFPA and national maternal health programs and contributes to safe motherhood training for midwives and junior medical officers in Timor-Leste. She is focused on clinical practice and capacity development in maternal health.

Dr. Guterres sees international patients at HNGV including NGO workers and expatriates requiring OB-GYN care in Dili. She consults in Tetum, Portuguese, Indonesian, and English. Video consultations are available for prenatal advice and second opinions.

Dr. Guterres has contributed to maternal health program development at HNGV and participates in Timor-Leste Medical Association and OB-GYN Society activities, contributing to safe motherhood education.