DILI, 18 january 2020 (TATOLI)- Ministry of Health together with its partnerships of European Union (EU) and the World Health Organization (WHO) launch the partnerships of Health support focus on four strategies in response to COVID-19.
Under these partnerships the EU has committed to support nearly 2.4 million for the strengthening of the health system of four major strategic that will be held for over 20 months of period.
The four strategies are to mount effective COVID-19 response operations that are gender responsive and inclusive of all, participatory, transparent and accountable, To strengthen testing capacity, detecting, and monitoring COVID-19 cases, To reduce the risk of advance impacts on morbidity and mortality including from other health issues, and To access timely availability of technical experts, personal protective equipment (PPE) and other non-medical items required for the prevention and mitigation of COVID-19
Ministry of Health Odete Maria Freitas Belo said, Timor-Leste will have better and strong health system with the support from the partneships.
“Despite the relatively low number of cases, Timor-Leste continues to be at risk, however with the support from the partners like European Union and WHO, we can build better and stronger health system in Timor-Leste,” “ Ministry of Health, Odete Maria Freitas Belo said at the launching ceremony today at the Ministry of Health office, Caicoli Dili.
On the other hand, the EU Ambassador to Timor-Leste Andrew Jacob acknowledges the world is facing unprecedented health, social and economic shocks from COVID-19. Thus he said the EU is pleased to join forces with the WHO to address impact of covid-19 in Timor-Leste.
“The EU new partnership with the WHO will support the Ministry of Health to scale up public health efforts and better protect people. The initiative will strengthen the capacity of the National laboratory capacity so as to improve the management of COVID-19 cases and support the Saude na Familia centres providing new diagnostics equipment and medicines,” EU Ambassador, Andrew Jacobs said.
This project will be spread across the country and work on strengthening health systems down to the suco level.
The leading role of WHO in response to this project is to support the Ministry of Health strengthening health systems and providing technical assistance and being the international normative agency in the area of health policy in general.
The WHO technical support will involve policy dialogue, strategic support, technical expertise and where appropriate, direct service provision.
In addition to COVID-19 response, this partnership also aims to reduce the risks of adverse impacts on morbidity and mortality including from other health issues in Timor-Leste.
The WHO Representative in Timor-Leste, Arvind Mathur said the contribution of the European Union is critical to WHO’s efforts to support Timor-Leste in responding to the ongoing pandemic.
“Together we must continue to strengthen COVID-19 response by aggressively implementing the basic public health preventive measures. The EU-WHO collaboration in the area of UHC has been a great showcase of what our collective collaboration can do to help the MoH strengthen health systems. I am glad that EU-WHO are partnering once again. We are excitedly looking forward to our continued collaboration,” WHO Representative, Arvind Mathur, said.
TATOLI
