Dili, September 15, 2026 (Media Democracia) – The Wolbachia Program implemented by the Government through the Ministry of Health (MS) together with Menzies Timor-Leste (TL) in Dili Municipality has reached 80%. This is a good percentage.
The Vice Minister of Health for Institutional Strengthening, José Mango dos Reis, said regarding the Wolbachia program that the Government, through the Ministry of Health together with Menzies Timor-Leste, has implemented in Dili Municipality and has now reached 80%, with the possibility to expand to other municipalities with high resistance levels.
“Regarding the progress of the Wolbachia program, according to the information I received today, it has already reached 80%. This is a good percentage. Today I said that all the efforts we have made with various strategies, and like Brucellosis, this is also a strategy to prevent the situation from becoming more serious,” said Vice Minister of Health for Institutional Strengthening José Mango dos Reis to journalists at Novu Turismo, Tuesday (15/09).
He said that the current percentage is good, and he hopes it will show good results in the coming years.
“No government or state thinks about doing something to harm its people, because the people are us. We are all part of this. So if we do something good, we are protecting ourselves,” he said.
He affirmed that the 80% is now in Dili Municipality, because this is a pilot project implemented by the government with its partners. He guaranteed that it can reduce dengue disease in Timor-Leste.
“We hope for this. This is only in Dili. Today I also heard and saw that the results are good. We need to expand further to other municipalities. Menzies and the Government of Timor-Leste can, in the future, expand to municipalities that have a high level of resistance,” he concluded.
Previously, the Government through the Ministry of Health together with Menzies Timor-Leste launched the Wolbachia program in Timor-Leste.
Reporting: Octaviana Da Costa
Photo: Octaviana Da Costa