Supporting USAID’s Commitment to Help Timor-Leste Fight COVID-19

In Timor-Leste, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has committed $1.1 million to help the Government of Timor-Leste fight COVID-19.

The funding from USAID’s Global Health Emergency Reserve Fund will help the Timorese government prepare laboratory systems, activate case-finding and event-based surveillance, support technical experts for response and preparedness, risk communication, infection prevention and control, and more. The U.S. assistance will be channeled through USAID’s Reinforce Basic Health Services Activity and the World Health Organization, which has the lead role in assisting the Timor-Leste government in battling COVID-19 and will receive the majority of the funding.

“As we fight the battle against COVID-19 at home, the United States continues to support countries globally through our humanitarian assistance, and this includes a $1.1 million investment in Timor-Leste’s work to control the spread of this virus.” commented U.S. Ambassador Fitzpatrick.

The JSI-led Reinforce Basic Health Services Project will work closely with Ministry of Health clinicians and health facility managers to ensure effective surveillance and rapid response to suspected COVID-19 cases and to improve infection prevention and control (IPC) practices.

Through the project, JSI will strengthen the capacity of the country’s national health training institution to deliver IPC training and follow-up after training to health workers. In addition, JSI will improve communities’ knowledge of how to reduce the risk of infection or spread of COVID-19 and will increase the availability and use of hand-washing materials in key locations including public buildings and health facilities.

JSI also will strengthen the capacity of the national laboratory to complete infectious disease testing through an emergency procurement of bio-safety equipment.