India has sent 10,000 doses of rabies vaccine and 2,000 vials of rabies immunoglobulin to Timor-Leste to help the island nation tackle a rabies outbreak. India also reaffirmed its role as a trusted and reliable health partner to the Global South.

According to the World Health Organisation, Timor-Leste reported its first human rabies case in March 2024. Following that, the WHO provided the country’s Ministry of Health with 6,000 doses of rabies vaccine and 2,000 doses of immunoglobulin. An additional 10,000 doses of WHO-procured vaccine and 1,000 doses of RIG were delivered to Dili on August 31 to strengthen the national response further.

In collaboration with partners, including the Governments of India and Indonesia, WHO has facilitated the supply of another 12,000 vaccine doses and 2,000 doses of RIG, marking a collective regional effort against the outbreak.