DATE=11/4/1999
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
TITLE=WHO / EAST TIMOR (L-ONLY)
NUMBER=2-255817
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: The World Health Organization, W-H-O,
warns that cholera, malaria and tuberculosis pose
major health threats in East Timor. Lisa Schlein
in Geneva reports the risk of epidemic diseases
breaking out during the rainy season is extremely
great.
TEXT: World Health Organization medical officer
Moira Connelly has just returned from a three-
week mission to East Timor. She describes a
scene of utter devastation. She says most of the
health care facilities, which were in place
before the August 30th independence referendum,
have been destroyed. In addition, she says most
of the population has been displaced, including
many primary health care workers who fled to the
hills.
Dr. Connelly says this situation will create
problems in controlling and treating diseases.
She says the monsoon season will be a dangerous
period.
///CONNELLY ACT///
We're dealing with a population,
particularly young children, who are
vulnerable to respiratory tract infections,
to diarrhea diseases, and malaria poses a
major threat to their health. We have a
situation where there is poor access to
health facilities at the moment. The N-G-
O's (non-government organizations) are
trying to get into as many communities as
possible. And, you've got to be sure of
the availability of drugs and that people
are actually able to access these health
care services.
///END ACT///
Dr. Connelly says it is likely that many of the
children who are returning to their villages and
towns are malnourished. This, she notes,
increases their susceptibility to illness.
The World Health Organization says the biggest
problem facing East Timor over the next four
months is malaria. This is because stagnant
water makes an ideal breeding ground for the
mosquito that transmits the disease when it bites
humans.
The U-N Health Agency says diarrhea-related
diseases are likely to spread through the
territory's contaminated water supply system.
Dr. Connelly says dengue fever, which is endemic
in East Timor, will also surface. She adds that
her visit provided advanced warning of the health
dangers in East Timor.
/// 2ND CONNELLY ACT ///
The purpose of my mission in East Timor was
to establish a health information system to
provide an early warning of epidemics.
And, also to monitor what the major health
problems were. So, that in our provision
of health care with N-G-O's, that we
address these main health issues.
///END ACT///
The World Health Organization says tuberculosis
treatment programs urgently need to be restarted
in East Timor. A study of East Timorese refugees
in Australia shows that nearly three percent of
them are active carriers of T-B. On the basis of
this study, W-H-O concludes about 20-thousand
East Timorese dispersed through Timor have active
T-B. If these people are not promptly treated,
W-H-O warns, the number of people infected with
the disease will increase dramatically. (Signed)
NEB/LS/GE/KL
04-Nov-1999 10:51 AM EDT (04-Nov-1999 1551 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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