Kupang, July 23, 2025

The Government of Indonesia, through the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, has handed over 2,000 vials of anti-rabies vaccine (ARV) to the Government of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste. This handover was in response to an official request from the Government of Timor-Leste to address the ongoing rabies outbreak and support efforts to control the current extraordinary situation.

The handover ceremony took place at Ben Mboi Hospital, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, on Wednesday (July 23, 2025). Rabies is among the deadliest zoonotic diseases. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), rabies causes between 35,000 and 50,000 deaths annually, with about 40% of victims being children under 15 years old. An estimated 10 million people receive anti-rabies vaccines each year as a preventive measure. Currently, more than 3.3 billion people live in rabies-endemic areas, making this disease a complex public health challenge that requires a multi-sectoral approach.

The Secretary of the Directorate General of Disease Control at the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, Dr. Andi Saguni, stated that the handover of the vaccine is a tangible manifestation of solidarity between Indonesia and Timor-Leste. “I would like to express my gratitude to all parties who have facilitated this activity. Today, we are handing over 2,000 vials of anti-rabies vaccine from the Government of the Republic of Indonesia to the Government of Timor-Leste,” Dr. Andi said.

He explained that this assistance is a swift response to the direct request from the Government of Timor-Leste to the Indonesian Minister of Health, Budi Gunadi Sadikin. “This request came directly from the Government of Timor-Leste, and the Minister of Health responded promptly. This demonstrates Indonesia’s strong commitment to strengthening regional cooperation, particularly in addressing emergency health situations such as the rabies outbreak,” he added.

Dr. Andi also stated that the provision of this vaccine is expected to help accelerate rabies control in Timor-Leste, where the disease is generally transmitted through warm-blooded animals such as dogs and cats. This initiative not only reflects close bilateral cooperation but also serves as evidence of Indonesia's contribution to addressing global health challenges.

The handover of the vaccine marks an important step in strengthening the relationship between Indonesia and Timor-Leste, especially in the field of public health, and affirms Indonesia’s active role in supporting regional health security.

The Representative of the Consulate of Timor-Leste, Cesaltina da Silva da Costa, expressed deep appreciation for the assistance. “On behalf of the Government of Timor-Leste, I would like to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to the Government of Indonesia, particularly through the Ministry of Health and the Province of East Nusa Tenggara, for the urgently needed rabies vaccine donation,” she said.

She emphasized that this assistance is not merely technical cooperation, but a strong symbol of humanitarian solidarity between the two neighboring countries, which have close historical, geographical, social, and cultural ties, especially in the border area.

The Consulate also highlighted the importance of vaccination to prevent rabies transmission and reduce deaths from the disease. The vaccine will be immediately deployed by Timor-Leste health authorities as a swift response to the ongoing outbreak. “This donation reflects the spirit of humanitarian solidarity and cross-border concern for public health,” she added.

Concluding her remarks, the Consulate expressed hope that cross-border cooperation would also include the facilitation of logistics and quarantine procedures. “We hope that coordination regarding quarantine facilities in the border area can be improved, with support from relevant agencies such as Quarantine, Customs, and Immigration in Indonesia," Cesaltina concluded.

This assistance is expected to be the initial step toward broader, sustainable, and strategic cross-border health collaboration, aiming for a healthier, safer, and rabies-free Southeast Asian region.

This news is broadcast by the Public Communication and Information Bureau, Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia. For more information, you can contact Halo Kemenkes via hotline 1500-567, SMS 081281562620, or email [email protected]. (DJ/SK)

Head of Public Communication and Information Bureau

Aji Muhawarman, ST, MKM