Timor-Leste COVID-19 Response and Health System Preparedness Project

closed

Closed

The proposed project aims to support the Government of Timor-Leste in preventing, detecting and responding to COVID-19 and strengthen national systems for health emergency preparedness. The project will help the government deploy COVID-19 vaccines that meet Bank’s vaccine approval criteria (VAC) and strengthen relevant health systems that are necessary for a successful deployment and to enhance the health system’s readiness to respond to outbreaks and pandemics in the future. The proposed project will help vaccinate the remaining 20 percent out of 90 percent of the targeted population by the end of CY2022). The country will provide vaccinations free of cost to the population. The project is limited to finance: i) support to the implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination program (component 1) by supporting for vaccine rollout, in particular the transport cost and M&E supervision (1.1) and support investments in health system for vaccine delivery in the longer term (1.2), which will include purchase of vehicles and IT equipment (laptops/desktops) to enhance capacity for rapid and equitable distribution of essential supplies (vaccines, medicines, medical supplies) and to provide equitable access for COVID19 vaccine to the community at large, including those residing in areas with limited road network and public transport services; ii) strengthening health system capacities for health emergency preparedness and delivery of essential health services (component 2) through investments in disease surveillance systems such as developing a web-based integrated epidemiological surveillance reporting system (2.1), strengthening Timor-Leste’s pandemic preparedness capacity through preparation of assessments and plans for health emergencies preparedness and by conducting simulation exercises (2.2), enhancing health systems and building competencies of service delivery for future emergencies (2.3) such as rapid mobilization of the needed supplies and human resources and supporting innovative technologies (performance-based budgeting and financing mechanisms, digital geospatial monitoring, planning and decision making, piloting drone-based technologies to deliver consumables and supplies to the most remote and hard to reach areas - learning from experiences of such technology use in other countries).The proposed project activities were anticipated under the MOH’s National Contingency Plan for Public Health Emergencies COVID-19, and the national COVID-19 vaccination program, as responses to areas where gaps have been identified. This Contingency Plan has compiled all the actions and procedures that are currently underway in the country that will be implemented by Ministry of Health, which largely refer to WHO guidelines. It also aims to present general measures to be adopted by all sectors that have impacts on health, in a process that involves the participation of all the relevant sectors with a view to minimizing the risk of introducing and disseminating COVID-19 in Timor-Leste as well as the negative social and economic impact of the pandemic for the country. The project design is aligned with Timor-Leste’s National Contingency Plan for Public Health Emergencies and the national COVID-19 vaccination program, responding to areas where gaps have been identified. The project will also enhance innovative information systems for better data management, planning and epidemiological surveillance; build country capacity to better assess the risks and plan for future health emergencies; and strengthen health system and health facility capacities to manage potential future emergencies. The Project will be financed by the Health Emergency Preparedness and Response (HEPR) Umbrella Program and its associated Trust Fund (HEPRTF) and will include US$2 million from the HEPR response component to support vaccine deployment (excluding purchase of vaccines), and US$3 million from the HEPR preparedness component. As per rules of the HEPR Umbrella Program, funds for each component are distinct and cannot be intermingled. No construction or major civil works will be financed under this project and the activities will take place in existing area of COVID-response operation. The project will also not involve any associated facilities.

FY17 - Health

World Bank

Project

Mass Transit, Road, Automotive, Hospital, Commercial, Government