East Timor erupted in violence following the announcement of the results of the referendum on independence from Indonesia on August 31st, 1999. Entire villages and towns were emptied as more than 200,000 persons – one quarter of the entire population – fled to West Timor and surrounding areas. With the return of stability under UN authority many of these displaced persons began to return to their homes, but the damage to the country’s infrastructure has made the transition extremely difficult. In particular, poor housing and vector control has raised the risk of disease, and the severe shortage of health care practitioners and managers has hampered the country’s ability to respond effectively. This presentation outlines the results of a country-wide public health survey conducted by the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and WHO in the spring of 2000. It addresses the following areas: basic household demographics, morbidity and mortality patterns, displacement, immunization coverage, water and sanitation and the status of health facilities. The presentation also describes how this information is being used to guide the emerging Ministry of Health’s decision-making process, including the development of a package of cost-effective, essential health services.
Learning Objectives: 1. Describe the major health problems facing the people of East Timor 2. Articulate the ways in which results of the survey are being used by the East Timor MOH to develop healthcare policy 3. Prioritize the top five diseases in terms of burden of disease in East Timor
Keywords: International Health, Refugees
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.