| Subject: WHO warns
public health work in Timor will end if no new funds found WHO warns public health work in Timor will end if no new funds found
GENEVA, Oct 8 (AFP) - The World Health Organization (WHO)
said on Friday its work to support public health in Timor would come to a standstill if no
new funds are found.
"That would mean an effective end to public health
coordination in East Timor," a WHO statement released here said.
WHO estimated last month that it would need nine million
dollars to be able to continue its operations in Timor.
WHO staff support the health authorities in East Timor and
offer technical guidance to other United Nations agencies and non-governmental
organizations.
They have also set up a communicable disease surveillance
system.
"We at WHO have limited flexibility to take money away
from other priority health areas so we have to raise the money for an emergency such as
this one from extraordinary sources," said Dr Xavier Leus, WHO director of emergency
and humanitarian action.
WHO staff are working in East and West Timor thanks to
money already found by the organization and a 300,000 dollar donation by the Italian
government.
"But the Italian donation has run out and if we do not
get additional funds we will have to scale down and eventually cease our operations
there," he said.
The WHO request for nine million dollars is part of an
overall UN appeal, due to be officially launched later this month, but the WHO said it
needed the money now.
WHO Director-General Gro Harlem Brundtland said:
"Humanitarian aid and reconstruction without the public health component will be
partial and will fail to address the needs of people and communities,
"WHO is ready to play its role in Timor. The challenge
now is to get support from donors," Brundtland said.
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