DILI, 09 november 2023 (TATOLI) – The United States Embassy in Dili through the Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), on Thursday, launched a US$1.35 million program to support the Ministry of Health’s Infection and Prevention Control program. Through this program, capacity building for prevention and response to pandemics such as COVID-19 would be extended for the benefit of routine health services in Timor-Leste.
The one-year program would continue with activities to strengthen health facilities with Infection Prevention and Control (IPC). In addition, the program will support the rollout of the integrated vaccination program across all 14 municipalities through social mobilization, and capacity building of health workers and community groups such as the Mother Support Groups. Moreover, water and sanitation facilities in 14 Community Health Centers in 3 municipalities will be upgraded.
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, the United States has provided over 200,000 safe and effective Pfizer vaccines and more than US$7.4 million in critical supplies and assistance to Timor-Leste,” said Acting USAID Mission Director Ann Marie Yastishock: “This demonstrates our commitment to support Timor-Leste’s efforts to save lives and strengthen economic recovery.”
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, this collaboration between USAID and UNICEF has immensely boosted the country’s overall pandemic prevention and response through risk communication, community engagement, infection control, and improving water and sanitation facilities at health centers in seven municipalities.
This extended support has been a substantial contribution to Timor-Leste’s broader and remarkable COVID-19 response and prevention, including the recovery of up to 99 percent of those who tested positive and achieving a 90 percent coverage of first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the collaboration between USAID and UNICEF has boosted the country’s pandemic prevention and response through risk communication, community engagement, infection control, and improving water and sanitation facilities at health centers in seven municipalities.
This extended support has been a substantial contribution to Timor-Leste’s broader and remarkable COVID-19 response and prevention, including recovery of up to 99 percent of those who tested positive and achieving a 90 percent coverage of the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine.
This phase of support would particularly focus on supporting the health system’s transition from emergency response to sustainable integration of COVID-19 vaccine within the routine immunization program, as well as establishment of stockpiles of high-demand commodities and other essential supplies needed to curb COVID-19 transmission.
“Infection Prevention and Control has been the core of COVID-19 prevention and response. This project has played a key role in providing lifesaving and personal protecting supplies to health staff and has helped to boost the morale and confidence of health staff to effectively respond to the pandemic,” said UNICEF Country Representative, Bilal Aurang Zeb Durrani.
To officially mark the launch of this program, IPC equipment, including waste disposal bins, and personal protective equipment were symbolically handed over to the Ministry of Health for use in Community Health Centers across the country.
Journalist: Camilio de Sousa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
