MEDIA RELEASE
DATE July 20, 2009
CARE Assists the Ministry of Health in Providing Life-saving Malaria Services

On July 21, 2009, CARE, through the EC funded MIAT project, supplied the Ministry of Health (MoH) with twenty microscopes that will be used to detect malaria cases at health facilities, a vital piece of equipment that will allow MOH staff to accurately diagnose and treat malaria.

“While a simple tool, the microscopes provided by CARE and the EC are critical in order for the Ministry of Health staff to offer important health care for the people of Timor-Leste. We are very proud to be partners with the Ministry of Health and support them in delivering lifesaving services to the people of Timor Leste” says CARE Timor-Leste Country Director Diane Francisco.

Since 2005, CARE has been implementing a malaria prevention and control project in Liquica, Bobonaro and Covalima Districts through the MIAT program (Mitigation of Malaria for the Most Affected Groups on Timor Island) in partnership with MoH and the European Commission. MIAT integrates community-level health interventions with health facility support for treatment and diagnosis.

Early diagnosis using a microscope is essential in preventing death because early detection and treatment can also stop further spread of malaria. CARE also supplied the MoH with essential medications to treat malaria, and educational materials about how to prevent malaria.

“If the Timorese people can access fast and accurate diagnosis and treatment for malaria it will help individuals to recover and it also helps to limit the spread of the disease to others. CARE is happy to be able to hand over these truly important tools to the MOH so the people can receive the highest quality of care” adds Ms. Francisco.

In Timor-Leste malaria is one of the top causes of death and disease. The MIAT project and the MoH encourage all people to seek treatment at health facilities when they are sick with fever for more than one day.

A ceremony will take place on the 21st of July 2009, at 3:00 pm, at the Ministry of Health, where CARE staff members, Carol Boender (Assistant Country Director), Lynnette Olembo (MIAT Program Manager), Elizabeth Geier (MIAT Project Manager), Dr. Karam Jeet Singh (Program Leader Health) and Maria Lourdes Gama Soares (Technical Malaria Officer) will officially handover the microscopes, medicine, and education materials to Mr. Agapito da Silva Soares, the Director General of the MOH.