Metinaro, July 10th 2020: The Australian Government, through his Military Technical Cooperation DCP, supported the construction of quarantine’s facilities, with 20 beds, in military health services in Metinaro, to support a possible second phase of COVID-19 .
According to the Vice-Chief of General Staff of FALINTIL – Timor-Leste’s Defence Forces (F-FDTL), Brigadier General Domingos Raul “Falur Rate Laek”, the quarantine facilities that were built in Metinaro will be mainly dedicated to military and their families, in the event of they become affected by COVID-19.
“We are here today, Madam doctor, Minister of Health, the Australian partners, who supported us with this infrastructure, our Chief of Military Health, as well as some guests, for the opening ceremony of these quarantine facilities. This is a preventive measure, in the continuation of the outbreak of COVID-19. Should the disease spreads in our country, we can place our forces here, our families in need, and other people linked to the forces. We can put them here, as military family. They can all stay here. Each barracks can accommodate up to 20 people, and there is still a barracks that needs to be restored, so that we can increase the quarantine space” said F-FDTL’ s Vice Chief of Staff, Falur Rate Laek.
Regarding the service, the F-FDTL’ s Deputy Chief of Staff explained that “today, we have already seen the presentations made by doctors, but, for me, it is important to start with our current capabilities, and then we will continue increasing, we will continuously be developing“.
“The FALINTIL-Timor-Leste’s Defence Forces (F-FDTL) had support from strategic partners for this equipment. Both in terms of training, in Aileu, as well as in logistics, infrastructure, training for doctors, communications and engineering, all of this was supported by Australia, they are their support, although our Government also continues to invest in the armed forces”, added the Brigadier General Domingos Raul Falur Rate Laek.
In this opening ceremony of the quarantine’s facilities for FALINTIL-FDTL took part the Minister of Health, Mrs Odete da Silva Viegas, the Director General of Health Services, the Vice Chief of Staff of the F-FDTL, Brigadier General Falur Rate Lake, the Ambassador of Australia, the DCP’ s Representative, the Chief of Military Health, Lieutenant Colonel Guido de Oliveira, Commanders of Components and Divisions of the F-FDTL, as well as Officers, Sergeants, and Privates of the F-FDTL.