DATE=10/11/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=W-H-O / EAST TIMOR (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-254877
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The World Health Organization, W-H-O, warns
its operations in East Timor will come to an end
within the next two or three months unless it gets
more money. Lisa Schlein reports that the Geneva-
based agency says its appeal for nine-million dollars
has not been successful, thereby jeopardizing
important public health programs in East Timor.
TEXT: The World Health Organization is providing
technical assistance to other United Nations and
private aid agencies in East Timor. It is setting up
a communicable disease surveillance system to control
key diseases such as tuberculosis, malaria and
cholera.
W-H-O Emergency Health Officer, Khalid Shibid, says
the organization also coordinates the activities of
the many so-called health actors working in East
Timor. By that he means recognized organizations,
such as the Red Cross and Doctors without Borders, as
well as dozens of church and private groups that have
come to help the East Timorese.
/// SHIBID ACT ///
Each of these actors has its own norms and
standards, its own procedures and its own way to
tackle health problems. Without coordination,
we will have chaos in the health field that
might be very adverse to the health of the
population of East Timor.
/// END ACT ///
Dr. Shibid says W-H-O does not run clinics or
hospitals or provide direct health care for people.
He says W-H-O's strength is in providing guidance for
health workers. For this to be successful, he says,
W-H-O has to have health officers in the field to
advise and coordinate health needs. He says this
cannot be done from W-H-O headquarters in Geneva. He
adds that a lack of proper guidance and coordination
could create a very dangerous situation.
/// 2ND SHIBID ACT ///
If different patterns of treatment are used for
treating the same disease, then the result will
be drug resistance. For example, new strains of
tuberculosis or malaria, which is now a big
problem worldwide, or any other communicable
disease.
/// END ACT ///
Dr. Shibid says East Timor has been very lucky so far
in that there have not been any serious outbreaks of
disease. But, he notes, this is likely to change
because of the bad conditions that exist in the
territory. He says many people are homeless and
forced to live in crowded and unsanitary conditions.
East Timor's health system has been completely
destroyed. In addition to that, he says, the rainy
season is coming and this is likely to cause an
epidemic of malaria. (Signed)
NEB/LS/GE/JP
11-Oct-1999 10:50 AM EDT (11-Oct-1999 1450 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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