Dili, July 09, 2020

Timor Leste’s gains as a Covid-19 free country were today consolidated as the UNDP welcomed further shipments of critical medicines and materials to support the Government of Timor Leste and the nation’s health system in response to Covid-19 and other critical illnesses.

The medicines and medical equipment, valued at $5.7 million, were procured with United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) assistance. The UNDP’s global networks enabled sourcing from quality-assured sources in China and Europe.

At the beginning of the crisis on April 1 the UNDP and the Government of Timor-Leste moved quickly to procure medicines and medical equipment for coronavirus and other critical illnesses. 

The UNDP worked closely with SAMES, the National Laboratory and Department of Pharmacy of Ministry of Health in the procurement processes to ensure the quality of medical supplies, devices and medicines. The UNDP actions are ongoing in support of the Ministry of Health’s efforts to strengthen all health facilities. 

Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, H.E Mr. Julião da Silva thanked the UNDP saying “we hope that the collaboration between UNDP and the Government of Timor-Leste to strengthen Timor-Leste's preparation in this uncertain situation will help Timor-Leste remain a country free from the threat of COVID-19.”

UNDP Resident Representative Tuya Altangerel reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting Timor-Leste during this unprecedented period.

“These latest batches contain PPE, ventilators, medicines and other medical devices sourced from China, India and several countries in Europe. We worked closely with SAMES, the National Laboratory and Department of Pharmacy of Ministry of Health in the procurement processes to ensure the quality of medical supplies, devices and medicines,”  Ms. Altangerel said.

The UNDP’s procurement support has been paralleled by local initiatives led by the UNDP’s projects across the country. Youth hub Knua Juventude Fila Liman has led the way with 3D printing of face-shields for front-line health workers, while the UNDP Accelerator Lab has supported dozens of female employees to hand-sew re-usable face masks and large-scale local hand-sanitiser production.

The socio-economic impacts of the response to Covid-19 are also being addressed by the Government of Timor Leste with support for the UNDP and Asian Development Bank, with the launch today of a $1.1 million food basket program to bolster food security and agricultural livelihoods.