Fragile States, Infectious Disease and Health Security: The Case for Timor-Leste
Journal Title: Journal of Human Security - Year 2014, Vol 10, Issue 1
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 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.
Authors and Affiliations
John M. Quinn surname0, Vladimir Bencko surname0, Nelson Martins surname0, Mateus Cunha surname0, Michiyo Higuchi surname0, Dan Murphy surname0
Keywords
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- EP ID EP194724
- DOI 10.12924/johs2014.10010014
- Views 104
- Downloads 0
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