World Health Organization Statistics for 2014 indicate good trends for Timor-Leste
Minister of State and of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers and
Official Spokesperson for the Government of Timor-Leste
Díli, July 3, 2014
World Health Organization Statistics for 2014 indicate good trends for Timor-Leste
In the first half of 2014 the World Health Organization [WHO] has published three reports that indicate good health trends in Timor-Leste.
On the 27th of March WHO declared the whole region of South East Asia, including Timor-Leste, as Polio Free. The WHO report explained that all 11 countries of the region were able to satisfy the conditions of three years of zero confirmed cases due to indigenous wild poliovirus, excellent laboratory-based surveillance for poliovirus, demonstrated capacity to detect, report, and respond to imported cases of poliomyelitis, and assurance of safe containment of polioviruses in laboratories.
Then on the 27th of April, World Malaria Day, the Organization announced that Timor-Leste is on track for a greater than 75% decrease in the incidence of Malaria cases over the period 2000 to 2015. Measures recommended by the WHO to prevent and control malaria are promoted in Timor-Leste including protection against mosquito bites at night through use of insecticide-treated mosquito nets, control of Anopheles mosquitoes through indoor spraying with insecticide, and early detection and effective treatment of the disease.
On the 16th of May the WHO’s World Health Statistics Report 2014, a compilation of the health related data of its 194 member states was released. The report noted that Timor-Leste was ranked fifth amongst all member countries in regard to making the greatest progress in extending life expectancy between 1990 and 2012. In this period life expectancy in Timor-Leste rose from 50 to 66 years. Significant progress in the areas of child health (reductions in neonatal, infant and under 5 mortality rates) and maternal health (reduction in maternal mortality ratio) were also reported.
The Government of Timor-Leste allocated $67.2 million for the Ministry of Health in the 2014 budget, an increase on the $64.3 million allocated in 2013 and more than double the allocation to Health in 2010. This budget is being used to enable the full implementation of the health service delivery policy and the construction of 39 health clinics under the integrated suco health plan. Other budget contributions in 2014 impacting on health include $26.9 million allocated to the School Meal Program, which aims to keep children in school and to provide them with better nutritional balance.
Spokesperson Minister of State Agio Pereira noted “we welcome these positive indications coming from the World Health Organization. At the same time we recognise the many challenges that remain. Our Strategic Development Plan 2011- 2030 highlights that ‘maximising the overall health, education and quality of life of the Timorese people is central to building a fair and progressive nation’. On this occasion, on behalf of the Government, I wish to thank and salute all the health workers of Timor-Leste for their continued service to our nation”.
