Ministry of Health receives basic equipment from the World Health Organization
The Ministry of Health has received basic equipment to support the "Health in the family" programme, launched in 2016. These were delivered by the World Health Organization to Timor-Leste, on April 27th.
They include 12 medical tables for examinations and treatment, 71 laryngoscopes, 71 steam sterilisers, 71 manual resuscitators, 71 colorimeters, 71 stretchers, 55 carts, 190 clocks, 734 thermometers, 367 sphygmomanometers (gauges of arterial tension), 367 stethoscopes, 367 torches, 367 baby scales, 367 auriscopes, 367 scales and a hospital waste incinerator.
The Minister of Health, Maria do Céu Sarmento da Costa, recalled that this is "basic equipment donated by the World Health Organization to support the Health in the Family programme. I requested the Director General for Services Provision to coordinate as soon as possible the distribution of this equipment to the basic services, in order to make the Health in the Family programme a success".
The representative of the World Health Organization, Dr. Rajesh Pandav, said he expected that the Ministry of Health would put great efforts in distributing the equipment to Health Centres in Timor-Leste.
"The distribution mechanism needs to be good, to control and take care of this equipment. If needed, training will also be given to health personnel on the best use of this equipment, including its regular maintenance", recalled Rajesh Pandav.
The Health in the Family Programme is a comprehensive package of primary health care, launched by the Prime Minister, Rui Maria de Araújo, in April 2015. The implementation began in July 2015, in the municipality of Dili, and continues throughout the other 11 municipalities and the autonomous region of Oecusse-Ambeno. This programme needs medical and non-medical instruments support.
The total number of families in Timor-Leste is 206.483, according to the 2015 National Census. Until April 24th, 2016, 39,043 families had the visit of health personnel.
According to the goal set by the Ministry of Health, before November 28th, 2016, the communities of all 2,225 villages (“aldeias”) should have the visit of health personnel, inserted in the "Health in the Family" programme.
