DILI, 12 august 2022 (TATOLI) – The World Health Organizations (WHO) handed over the Polymerase Chain Reactions (PCR) kits to the Ministry of Health (MoH) to strengthen Timor-Leste’s preparedness and resilience for monkeypox in the country.
The PCR kits would be used for testing and diagnosis of monkeypox in Timor-Leste. With the handover, Timor-Leste is now equipped to conduct 750 tests at the National Health Laboratory.
“We are very pleased to hand over the 750 reactions of PCR test kits for monkeypox. These kits can be used for the detection of monkeypox virus,” WHO Representative to Timor-Leste, Arvind Mathur said during the handover ceremony at the Ministry of Health, in Dili, today.
On july 23, the WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus declared the escalating global monkeypox outbreak a ‘Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).’
Monkeypox, a viral disease, was confirmed in may 2022. The initial cluster of cases was found in the UK, where the first case was identified on may 6, 2022, in a person with travel links to Nigeria.
“Today we have 27.814 compound cases and 11 deaths have been reported to WHO worldwide because of Monkeypox,” said Mathur.
He said WHO was pleased as the National Health Laboratory has the capacity and capability to carry out the testing of monkeypox.
“Therefore, it was very important for all members countries to look to the preparedness and be ready. And we have been able to kind of extended assistance to the MoH in preparing the health system for detection, prevention, contact tracing, and care for any of the possibilities of a monkeypox outbreak in the country,” he stressed.
Mathur reiterated that the support will help to prepare Timor-Leste even better with the strongest surveillance for the monkeypox outbreak.
“We are also very pleased to acknowledge that there is no suspected case and no probable case as yet reported in Timor-Leste,” said Mathur.
In addition to the monkeypox testing kits, WHO also handed over medical, PPE, and ICT equipment to the Ministry of Health (MoH).
WHO provided 68 units of printers, 68 units of desktops, 60 units of super deluxe autoclave machine 24L, 6 units of digital thermometer hygrometer, 50 units of the plastic pallet rack, 7 units of AC Spilt LG inverter 1 pk, 7 units of refrigerators 2 doors LG 260 liter, 8 units of USB temperature data logger RC5, 12 units of medicine metal cupboard, Stainless steel shelf rack for medicine, etc.
The refrigerators, temperature data loggers, medicine cupboards, and shelves would be used for the proper storage of medicines at District Pharmacy Stores in five municipalities- Aileu, Ainara, Bobonaro, Ermera, and Viqueque.
Minister of Health Odete Maria Freitas Belo expressed her gratitude to the WHO for the timely handover of the testing kits.
“Now that we have the testing kits, we must prepare a response plan for any possible outbreak,” she said at the handover event.
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
