DILI, 18 november 2024 (TATOLI)— Nearly two dozen international experts from nine countries have gathered in Timor-Leste as the country undertakes its second Joint External Evaluation (JEE), which kicked off on monday. This high-stakes process, last conducted in 2018, is critical for assessing Timor-Leste’s capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats in line with the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005).
The JEE brings together government departments and 22 global specialists from the US, India, Switzerland, Australia, Thailand, Bhutan, Nepal, Myanmar, and Mongolia. Over the course of the week, they will assess 19 technical areas and 56 indicators, delving into key aspects such as disease surveillance, laboratory systems, emergency response, and antimicrobial resistance. These evaluations include on-ground visits to health facilities, laboratories, and points of entry, including airports and ports.
The inaugural event on Monday saw participation from over 200 representatives from various ministries, reflecting the significance of the JEE.
José dos Reis Magno, Vice Minister of Institutional Strengthening of the Ministry of Health, hailed JEE as an enlightening exercise, emphasizing its potential to help the country identify its strengths, address gaps, and take decisive action. “Let’s use this opportunity to hear and learn from experts in other countries,” he urged colleagues from departments such as the National Health Laboratory, INSP-TL, surveillance, and immunization.
SNAEM/HEOC, veterinary services, and security agencies who were present at the event.
Dr. Arvind Mathur, WHO Representative to Timor-Leste, called the JEE a critical step toward ensuring a safer and healthier Timor-Leste while contributing to a stronger global health landscape. He highlighted recent global crises such as COVID-19 and Mpox, as well as local challenges like rabies, dengue, and chikungunya, as urgent reminders of the importance of prevention, preparedness, and resilience.
Dr. Mathur also praised the Ministry of Health for its willingness to participate in the JEE. “It reflects a transparent and proactive approach to addressing current challenges and identifying opportunities for improvement,” he said. He also thanked donors and partners, especially the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), KOICA, Indonesia, and Thailand for their support.
Dr. Karen Sliter, who leads the External Evaluation team, commended Timor-Leste for voluntarily undertaking its second JEE. “The JEE’s team of experts comes as colleagues and peers, not auditors, with a shared purpose: to assess multiple health sectors and reach a consensus on areas needing further action,” she said.
The JEE evaluates a country’s ability to detect and respond to public health threats through a collaborative approach. An external team of experts, including those from the WHO, assesses health systems using structured indicators. Performance is rated on a scale from 1 to 5, where 1 indicates ‘no capacity’ and 5 means ‘sustainable capacity.’
Based on ratings, recommendations are provided for improvement. Following the JEE, countries develop national action plans on health security to strengthen preparedness, readiness, and response to public health emergencies. Following consultations and field visits, the team will provide its preliminary recommendations on Friday (November 22).
TATOLI
