DILI, 02 April 2025 (TATOLI) – Stakeholders gathered on Tuesday for the Workshop on Contingency Planning, Public Health Risk Assessment, and tabletop Simulation Exercise for fulfilling the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005).
The workshop was held at Presidente Nicolau Lobato International Airport in Dili.
“This workshop focused on strengthening the implementation of IHR at our Points of Entry, ensuring Timor-Leste remains vigilant and prepared to address potential public health emergencies of international concern,” WHO said in a statement.
The session brought together key representatives from multiple agencies including Airport and Air Navigation of Timor-Leste (ANATL), National Police of Timor-Leste (PNTL), Defense Force of Timor-Leste (F-FDTL), Points of Entry focal points, and WHO, where the participants engaged in intensive group work sessions, to develop practical solutions and strengthen coordination mechanisms.
Last year, nearly two dozen international experts from nine countries participated in Timor-Leste’s second Joint External Evaluation (JEE) to assess the country’s capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats in line with the International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005). Over the course of the week, these experts assessed 19 technical areas and 56 indicators, delving into key aspects such as disease surveillance, laboratory systems, emergency response, and antimicrobial resistance. These evaluations included on-ground visits to health facilities, laboratories, and points of entry, including airports and ports.
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.
WHO said that the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) play a key role in shaping the way the world prepares for and responds to emergencies.
“The IHR (2005) are central within the WHO Health Emergencies Program (WHE) to guide countries towards achieving common approaches and capacity standards. WHO supports countries to monitor, evaluate, strengthen, and test their core capacities to cope with crises,” according to WHO.
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