Dili, September 16, 2025 (Média Democracia) – The Ministry of Health, together with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Forestry (MALFF), has launched an awareness and vaccination campaign against rabies in Bobonaro Municipality, as Maliana has recorded a significantly high number of rabies cases.
The Vice Minister for Institutional Strengthening in Health, José dos Reis Magno, stated that the launch took place at E.B.C Victor Santa School in Maliana, where students listened to health personnel explain how to prevent rabies. They also observed a demonstration on how to wash a dog bite wound with soap and water, a simple step within 15 minutes that can save lives.
“Rabies is always fatal once symptoms appear, but it is also completely preventable. We can stop this disease before it reaches our communities,” said the Vice Minister for Institutional Strengthening in Health, José dos Reis Magno.
The Ministry further encouraged local authorities to repeat and continue this campaign. Community involvement, education, and local action are the key to preventing deaths caused by rabies in the country.
At the same event, the WHO Representative in Timor-Leste, Arvid Mathur, highlighted that vaccination and awareness are the two most important tools. The campaign teaches three simple, life-saving steps: wound washing, going to a health center, and receiving vaccination.
“Schools have become a primary focus, since almost 40% of dog-bite victims are children under the age of 15. This campaign also demonstrates regional support. The Ambassador of India to Timor-Leste, Madan Kumar Ghildiyal, was present to support the initiative,” said WHO Representative in Timor-Leste, Arvid Mathur.
He added that the campaign includes classroom lessons, direct demonstrations on wound washing, and community outreach in the afternoons. Teams go house to house, distribute stickers, and vaccinate dogs on site. From 8–11 September, the campaign covered 18 schools in 15 high-risk areas of Maliana, Atabae, and extended outreach to nearby villages.
“In Maliana, the campaign reached Suco Saburai, Holsa, Ritabou, Lahomea, Tapo, and Memo. In Atabae, the target was schools in Aidabaleten. Six national teams and six municipal teams worked together, supported by partners such as the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and the Government of Australia,” added the WHO Representative in Timor-Leste.
He further explained that after the first human rabies case in March 2024, WHO provided the Ministry of Health with 12,000 rabies vaccine doses and 2,000 doses of rabies immunoglobulin (RIG). As of 31 August, an additional 10,000 doses had arrived in Dili. WHO also helped transport another 10,000 vaccine doses and 1,000 RIG doses with support from Indonesia and India.
The Ministry of Health has created a National Task Force that meets daily to coordinate actions across different sectors. This effort ensures human and animal health, as well as community awareness, so that all stakeholders can work together to stop rabies in the country.
The campaign is led by the Ministry of Health, with support from the Ministry of Education and MALFF, and technical assistance from the World Health Organization (WHO). It applies a One Health approach, combining human health, animal health, and community efforts.
Report by: Nelfiano
Photo: Media WHO