GX Delivers Urgent Medical Support and Public Health Outreach in Dengue‑Hit Timor-Leste

A severe dengue fever outbreak began in Timor-Leste in January this year, with over 3,500 confirmed cases and 22 deaths recorded to date. In response, GX rapidly dispatched anti-epidemic supplies in February, which included 5,500 rapid dengue test kits, 1,300 bed nets, and 50,000 sticky fly traps. In early March, a GX team was deployed to conduct a week-long field assessment.

The team held meetings with Dr. Debashish KUNDU and Dr. Domingas DA SILVA, representatives from the WHO Office in Timor-Leste, to exchange views on prevention strategies. They subsequently visited the Vera Cruz Health Centre at the national hospital and a temporary dengue isolation camp to understand patient management procedures and isolation facility operations. Meetings were also held with Dr. José dos Reis MAGNO, Vice Minister of Health of Timor-Leste; Dr. Florindo GONZAGA, Director of the National Directorate of Disease Prevention and Control; and Dr. Heitor PEREIRA, Director of Disease Control, where the GX team learned of local supply shortages. An additional 2,800 bed nets and 1,300 rapid dengue test kits will be provided to support front-line medical systems.

Furthermore, the team, together with the 4th cohort of interns from the Timorese Catholic University, joined forces with the Ministry of Health to promote dengue prevention education. They distributed anti-mosquito supplies within communities and conducted VBD prevention talks at local primary schools to enhance community awareness of epidemic prevention.