DILI, 20 June 2025 (TATOLI) — UNICEF has handed over more than 11,000 doses of Tetanus and Diphtheria (TD) and Rotavirus vaccines to the health ministry.
Procurement Director of the National Institute of Pharmacy and Medical Products, Sérgio Belo said that the vaccines were purchased by UNICEF using funds provided by INFPM, totaling US$107,000.
“The INFPM team will inspect the vaccines before they are distributed to the hospitals,” Belo told Tatoli in Dili.
The rotavirus vaccine helps prevent rotavirus gastroenteritis—a common intestinal infection that causes diarrhea and vomiting, especially in infants and young children.
The vaccine offers protection against severe complications such as dehydration, which can lead to hospitalization in serious cases.
Meanwhile, the tetanus and diphtheria (TD) vaccine provides protection against dangerous toxins released by the bacteria that cause these two diseases. These bacteria usually enter the body through cuts or open wounds, where they can grow and produce toxins that may lead to serious muscle spasms and, in severe cases, can be life-threatening.
TATOLI
