DILI, 10 september 2021 (TATOLI)– The United States announced an additional $2.3 million in assistance to help Timor-Leste fight COVID-19 and strengthen health security.
Following the statement released from the USAID, The new funding will be used to build health facilities to better enable the Government of Timor-Leste to save lives.
Today $2.3 million assistance funding by the U.S to initiate work on three projects:
Building Isolation Facilities in Baucau: building isolation facilities for a regional hospital in Baucau, to help treat COVID-19 patients and offset the strain on existing medical facilities.
Constructing a Mobile Intensive Care Unit in Dili: constructing a mobile intensive care unit in Dili to strengthen the capacity of Timor-Leste to provide intensive care to COVID-19 patients and other vulnerable health populations; and
Borehole project in Batugade: developing a borehole project to increase water capacity and sanitation at a quarantine center in Batugade.
Representing a whole-of-U.S. government effort to support Timor-Leste, the funding announced today is provided by the U.S. Mission in Timor-Leste, through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and U.S. Indo-Pacific Command with collaboration from Peace Corps.
Aspects of the work will be carried out in cooperation with UNICEF.
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the United States has been working side-by-side with Timor-Leste to fight COVID-19, including providing $4 million in critical assistance.
The United States Embassy Chargé d’affaires Tom Daley is said The United States stands with Timor-Leste as an enduring friend and partner to combat COVID-19.
“The United States is taking a comprehensive approach to ending the pandemic, mitigating COVID-19’s harm to people and societies, and strengthening global recovery and readiness for future pandemic threats,” said U.S. Embassy Chargé d’affaires Tom Daley
“We are stepping up to help Timor-Leste save lives because it is the right thing to do,” he added.
It is also stated that the support reflects the strong U.S. commitment to ending the pandemic.
It is recalled that, In June, President Biden announced that the United States would share doses vaccine supply with the world. Following the statement of the U.S president, The United States has already donated and delivered more than 110 million doses to more than 60 countries in the world including Timor-Leste.
it is stated that The U.S will continue to assist Timor-Leste as part of its commitment to leading the global response to the pandemic.
Journalist : Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Nelia Borges Rosario
