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Fragile States, Infectious Disease and Health Security: The Case for Timor-Leste
[journal article]
Abstract
Timor-Leste is a very young and developing nation state. Endemic infectious disease and weakened health security coupled with its growing and inclusive public institutions keep Timor-Leste fragile and in transition on the spectrum of state stability. The objective here is to systematically review Ti... view more
Timor-Leste is a very young and developing nation state. Endemic infectious disease and weakened health security coupled with its growing and inclusive public institutions keep Timor-Leste fragile and in transition on the spectrum of state stability. The objective here is to systematically review Timor-Leste's state and public health successes, showing how a fragile state can consistently improve its status on the continuum of stability and improve health security for the population. The case study follows a state case study approach, together with a disease burden review and a basic description of the health portrait in relation to Timor-Leste's fragile state status. Disease burden and health security are directly proportional to state stability and indirectly proportional to state failure. Timor-Leste is a clear example of how public health can feed into increased state stability. Our discussion attempts to describe how the weak and fragile island nation of Timor-Leste can continue on its current path of transition to state stability by increasing health security for its citizens. We surmise that this can be realized when public policy focuses on primary healthcare access, inclusive state institutions, basic hygiene and preventative vaccination programs. Based on our review, the core findings indicate that by increasing health security, a positive feedback loop of state stability follows. The use of Timor-Leste as a case study better describes the connection between public health and health security; and state stability, development and inclusive state institutions that promote health security.... view less
Keywords
East-Timor; failed state; health care delivery system; health policy; health care; public health; contagious disease; prophylaxis; sustainable development; South Asia
Classification
Health Policy
International Relations, International Politics, Foreign Affairs, Development Policy
Free Keywords
development medicine; global public health; health security
Document language
English
Publication Year
2014
Page/Pages
p. 14-31
Journal
Journal of Human Security, 10 (2014) 1
ISSN
1835-3800
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed