Lautem, 22 july 2023 (TATOLI) – The Minister of Health (MoH), together with the World Health Organization (WHO) and National Ambulance and Emergency Service (SNAEM) launched the Health Emergency Operations Center (H-OPC), in Lautem Municipality which will serve as a hub for coordinating the preparation for, response to, and recovery from public health emergency.
Health Minister, Élia dos Reis Amaral said the H-OPC would also serve as a hub for coordinating resources and information to support response actions during a public health emergency and enhances communication and collaboration among relevant stakeholders.
“Just in case of a public emergency, such as a natural disaster, all stakeholders including MoH, WHO, National Ambulance and Emergency Service (SNAEM) would work together through the H-OPC to take immediate response actions,” Minister Amaral said in Lautem.
She highlighted that the H-OPC not only prepares and responds to emergencies, but also transfers patients from health centers to the Referral and the National Hospital.
“The two deputy health ministers and I are planning to set up the same center in other municipalities and also in the health ministry,” Amaral said.
The same H-OPC had also previously been installed in the municipalities of Dili, Ainaro, and RAEOA.
The WHO Representative in Timor-Leste, Arvind Mathur, said that the H-OPC is actually a place where the Lautem team can connect directly with MoH, WHO, SNAEM and other H-OPC in Dili, Ainaro, and RAEOA.
“So in case there is an emergency in Lautem, for example, disasters like landslides, floods, or major accidents happening, the team will have to discuss and take support from other H-OPCs, Ministry of Health, and WHO. There is a video conferencing facility, internet, and other equipment that is provided for emergency prevention, preparedness, and response,” Mathur explained. This is a mechanism by which WHO is supporting SNAEM to be better prepared for any disaster and health emergency.”
SNAEM Director General Horácio da Costa Sarmento said the installation of the H-OPC in Lautem was fully supported by WHO-Timor-Leste: “We hope that the same H-OPC will be installed in all municipalities in the country.”
Journalist: Filomeno Martins
Editor: Nelia Borges
