Dili: WHO has provided Timor-Leste non-communicable diseases (NCD) kits to prevent the additional risk of comorbidity and mortality from NCDs and strengthen essential health services amidst the current global COVID-19 pandemic.
Three sets of NCD kits were handed over to the Ministry of Health, Timor-Leste, to enhance the country’s response to COVID-19 as a part of WHO’s efforts to ensure restoration of essential health services – especially treatment for NCDs such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and hypertension – even as countries combat the virus.
The NCD kit is a pre-packed set of essential medicines and medical devices to meet priority NCD health needs of at least 30,000 people for three months in emergencies when medical facilities and regular supply are disrupted. Each kit contains five sub-modules, comprising oral medicines, essential diagnostic equipment, renewables and additional products that require cold-chain, such as insulin.
Photo credit: WHO Timor-Leste/ Shobhan
“There are several lessons that this pandemic has taught to the world and particularly concerning the health sector. It has brought the focus on maintaining the essential health services uncompromisingly, no matter what kind of outbreak we are dealing with. I thank WHO for providing this essential stock of NCD supplies in a crucial time like this,” said Dr Odete Maria Freitas Belo, Minister of Health, Timor-Leste.
The unprecedented public health measures such as border closures implemented by countries have severely affected, among many other things, the global supply chain for essential medicines and diagnostics. This puts countries with no local production capacity, at higher risk.
A recent WHO survey conducted in 155 countries revealed that there were significant disruptions of essential NCD services in almost every country, further increasing the risk for those with pre-existing NCDs to turning severely ill or dying from COVID-19.
The selection of medicines in the kits is aligned with the WHO Package of essential NCD interventions (PEN) for primary care – an effective and low-cost tool for early identification and management of NCDs and their risk factors in primary health care settings, which is being implemented in Dili, Ermera and Liquica municipalities.
“The recognition of these challenges by Timor-Leste and putting national COVID-19 preparedness and response plan in place and stress on providing essential services, including for NCDs, is commendable,” said Dr Rajesh Pandav, WHO Representative to Timor-Leste. “I also thank our sister agency, WFP in facilitating the transportation of the NCD kits from Kuala Lumpur to Dili, Timor-Leste, using its humanitarian flight service,” added Dr Pandav.
Photo credit: WHO Timor-Leste/ Shobhan
The WHO Office in Timor-Leste, since the beginning of the pandemic, continues to collaborate and work the Government of Timor-Leste closely in all aspects of its COVID-19 response, including surveillance, contact tracing and management, laboratory, clinical management, public education and awareness, information system, and training of health professionals.
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