DILI, 24 March 2020 (TATOLI) – China’s Ambassador to Australia, Xiao Jianguo, said the country is ready to support Timor-Leste with drugs and medical supplies to help in the fight against Covid-19.
Timor registered its first case of the virus, which has no vaccine, on Saturday. Mr Xiao said China is ready to help.
“As we all followed in the international news, China combatted Covid-19 very well… and we are ready to support LDC countries in the world, including Timor-Leste,” he said on Friday, referring to the world’s ‘least-developed’ countries.
Mr Xiao said the Ministry of Health has already requested help acquiring equipment.
“We have informed the [Chinese] government to see [if] we can prepare an equipment donation for the government of Timor-Leste… but already, we have a request to help put ventilators in [Timor’s] health centres,” he said.
Timor’s Council of Ministers has also approved a further four million dollars for new medicines and equipment.
Minister of Legislative Reform and Parliamentary Affairs, Fidelis Manuel Leite Magalhães, said proposals from the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Health together form around $11 million.
“This budget is prepared for an emergency situation,” he said yesterday.
“MNEC [Foreign Affairs] has also presented the proposal to accelerate reinforcement of medication and other necessary equipment to permit health personnel to use the drugs,” he said.
According to Minister Magalhães, prevention of Coronavirus is very important, in as much as the community is aware of the preventive medications for the virus, we need to buy these medications to help reduce the symptoms and severity of the virus.
Foreign Affairs Minister, Díonisio Babo-Soares confirmed the ministry was in contact with Ambassador Xiao, and that “we expect to have results this week”.
Support from other countries, WHO
Support from China will include equipment such as medications, sanitiser, and personal protective clothing (PPEs) for doctors and other front line staff, Fidelis said.
The Australian government earlier this month contributed $300,000 worth of PPEs and other supplies. And the Australian Embassy is also working with the National Hospital HNGV and health NGO Maluk Timor to help stop the spread of the virus.
In total, Australia supplied 6,600 face masks, 2000 isolation gowns, 1,500 gloves, 2,000 N95 masks, and 204 units of surgical scrub gel.
Additionally, the World Health Organisation also supplied PPE for health workers and emergency responders, including 20,000 gloves, 32,000 face masks/respirators, 1000 gown and 500 goggles.
After visiting a quarantine site in Metiaut yesterday, potential future Prime Minister and former President, Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão, said he supported approaching China for help.
“Yes, now we are in contact with China to help provide support such as medication and [to] send their doctors to our country to help,” he said.
Mr Gusmão expressed his appreciation for the help received from Australian Government, to the Vera Cruz Health Centre in Dili, to prepare the centre as an appropriate place for patients who test positive to COVID-19.
Likewise, he also praised the government of China for their spirit of humanity, to immediately dispatch their doctors to help other countries in crisis, such as Italy, Portugal, France and Indonesia.
Airport clean-up as flights slow down
On Monday the team from the Ministry of Health’s drug procurement team, SAMES, proceeded to disinfect the Nicolau Lobato International Airport Dili to help combat the spread of the virus.
SAMES Executive Director Santana Martins informed that they currently have 15 teams in the field to aid in the sanitisation of the Dili Airport.
“Today we are adopting this sanitisation practice in the hope it can be used by all components in the airport,” Santana Martins said.
SAMES also recommended Dili Airport authorities continue use this sanitisation process as passengers arrive, and to ensure staff use the masks and other protective clothes.
SAMES provided protective equipment for the task, including 750 masks and gloves, but will provide 200 more.
Finally, Timor-Leste’s branch of the Red Cross (CVTL) is also preparing to share up-to-date information regarding the COVID-19 virus to all communities across the districts.
5,000 CVTL volunteers, including 200 medical doctors, 30 analysts and other allied health professionals met with Vice-Health Ministry, Elia dos Reis Amaral, at CVTL headquarters to distribute the information to the Timorese people outside of Dili.
Covid-19 has now infected 360,630 people worldwide, and caused more than 16,000 deaths. Almost 100,000 people have now recovered, according to the World Health Organisation.
Read the original Tetum here: Governu Husu Tan Tulun Hosi Xina ba Prevene COVID-19
Journalist: Antonia Gusmão, Felicidade Ximenes
Editors: Robert Baird; Julia Chatarina, Agapito dos Santos
Translation: Nelia Borges
