DILI,05 may 2022 ( TATOLI)- The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)—announced a $500,000 grant to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) to expand joint actions in support of Timor-Leste’s national COVID-19 response, including vaccine rollout.
The additional $500,000 support will expand COVID-19 response interventions, assist the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination rollout campaign, and continue essential maternal, newborn, and child health services.
Funding will improve access to water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities in 14 Community Healthcare Centers (CHCs); advocacy and awareness for vaccine uptake and COVID-19 prevention; and procurement of essential medical supplies to help the continuation of critical health services.
The U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Tom Daley in his announcement said, since the pandemic, the United States has worked side-by-side with the Government of Timor-Leste in response to covid-19.
“U.S provided over 200,000 Pfizer vaccines and over $6.4 million in critical assistance to fight COVID-19, We are proud to partner with the Ministry of Health and UNICEF to support Timor-Leste’s COVID-19 response and strengthen health security to prevent future pandemics. Timor-Leste can continue to count on the United States as we work together to end the pandemic and jump-start economic recovery.” U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Tom Daley made the announcement joined by UNICEF Country Representative Bilal Durrani.
“To date, several hundred thousand people in five municipalities have benefited from COVID-19 response activities through the partnership between USAID, UNICEF, and the Ministry of Health,”
Minister of Health (MoH), Odete Maria Freitas Belo said, welcomed the funding for the support of COVID-19, support families, and children in a critical situations, and protect health workers as they provide health care services.
“We welcome the funding that supports the national COVID-19 response, as it will help more children and families get the critical support they need, including access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities in health centers, get vaccinated against COVID-19, and receive the treatment they need when ill,” said Dra. Odete Maria Freitas Belo, Minister of Health. “This joint support from USAID and UNICEF will also help protect health workers as they provide healthcare services.”
UNICEF has been supporting Timor-Leste’s national COVID-19 response since early 2020 and has contributed to improving access to health services, including essential services for nutrition, routine immunization and healthcare for mothers and children, improving access to distance learning and safer schools, helping set up systems and expanding child protection and social protection interventions.
“The partnership between USAID, UNICEF, and the Ministry of Health has resulted in people having access to clean water in several health centers, information on COVID-19 prevention and vaccines, and soon, health centers having additional medical supplies such as PPEs,” said Bilal Durrani, UNICEF Country Representative. “This funding will help expand the benefits of these critical interventions for hundreds of thousands more people in Timor-Leste as we work together to prevent outbreaks of COVID-19 and other diseases, and help formulate a child-centered post-COVID recovery.”
TATOLI
