DILI, 19 August 2025 (TATOLI) – The World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday donated 1,000 doses of Rabies Immunoglobulin (RIG) vaccine to the National Institute of Pharmacy and Medical Products (INFPM).
Miguel Soares, Director of the Quality Control Department at INFPM, confirmed that WHO had provided the RIG doses to support rabies vaccination efforts across Timor-Leste.
“We use two categories of rabies vaccines: VAR and RIG. Currently, we have over 1,000 doses of RIG and 463 doses of the human rabies vaccine (VAR) in stock at the INFPM warehouse.
These are intended for use in border municipalities such as Bobonaro, Covalima, Ermera, and RAEOA,” Director Manuel Soares in an interview at his office in Kampung Baru said on Tuesday.
Soares noted that Indonesia had previously donated 2,000 doses of the human rabies vaccine (VAR), but only 463 doses remain, as the rest have already been distributed to health centers throughout Timor-Leste.
He urged health centers to promptly submit requests to INFPM if rabies cases are detected in their areas, so that vaccines and medicines can be distributed to affected zones.
Rabies is a vaccine-preventable, zoonotic viral disease that affects the central nervous system. In up to 99% of human rabies cases, dogs are the primary source of transmission. Children between the ages of 5 and 14 are among the most frequent victims. The virus can infect all mammals, including dogs, cats, livestock, and wildlife.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Rafael Ximenes de A. Belo
