Dr Joshua Francis: infectious disease specialist, Menzies School of Health Research, Timor-Leste скачать в хорошем качестве

Dr Joshua Francis: infectious disease specialist, Menzies School of Health Research, Timor-Leste

Dr Francis is an Australian infectious disease specialist and one of 30 Australian and Timorese health workers from the Menzies School of Health Research, funded by Australia. "It is quite confronting really how little (clean water/medical resources) there are [in Timor-Leste] compared to the things we take for granted in Australia," he told ABC Radio Sydney. He said there are grave concerns about the damage the virus could do to a population where four out of every 10 people live in poverty. "The fear of COVID-19 tearing through the community and wreaking havoc is very real, but the [Timorese] government has responded proactively." His story is a good example of how Australia is helping keep our region safer through early preparedness, in close partnership with Timor-Leste. DFAT’s Indo-Pacific Centre for Health Security funds ‘Strong TL’, a Menzies School of Health Research disease control program in Timor–Leste, led by Dr Josh Francis. Australia and Timor-Leste are close neighbours, with a shared history and strong people-to-people links. Australia has worked successfully with Timor-Leste on early preparedness in the management of COVID-19, pivoting its AUD $100.7 million development program and providing an additional AUD $10 million in direct COVID-19 support. Much has been achieved—isolation facilities, in-country testing facilities, provision of PPE, training of health workers, economic stimulus programs, social protection systems, and promotion of community resilience and safety.