Angola News

Luanda, Angola – Dr Zabulon Yoti, the World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in Angola, accompanied by a team of WHO staff, joined the Minister of Health today for a field visit to the cholera outbreak hotspot in Cacuaco Municipality. They evaluated the Cholera Treatment Centres (CTCs) set up to manage the crisis and assessed the response at the community level. The government has shown commendable leadership in providing clean water to affected communities, a crucial step in curbing the spread of cholera.

Luanda - On 11 January 2025, WHO took part in a high-level meeting convened by the Minister of Health at the General Hospital of Cacuaco to address Angola’s cholera. WHO commended the Governments actions to effectively coordinate a multisector team, timely detect and respond to the outbreak including promptly sharing information with all relevant authorities in compliance with the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005).

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) have donated a batch of molecular biology test kits for Mpox to Angola’s National Institute for Health Research (INIS). This collaboration aims to enhance Angola’s capacity to swiftly detect and respond to Mpox cases, marking an important step in supporting the country’s public health system as it confronts the recent emergence of the disease.

Laurinda Pandasala was excited when she gave birth to her daughter, Ana, in July 2023. While the event was joyful, she also experienced underlying anxiety. She wanted the best for her child, especially regarding health care. However, accessing routine childhood vaccinations for Ana in Canduvene, a small city in Angola’s Bié Province community, proved daunting.

In a symbolic event marked by testimonies and the renewal of commitments to ensure that no child is left behind without vaccination, the Angolan government paid a heartfelt tribute to all the volunteers, partners and health professionals who, over the decades, have dedicated their lives to the fight to eradicate polio in Angola. 

To strengthen collaboration and funding for health, the Angolan government and its partners renewed their commitment today in Luanda, on the sidelines of the Universal Health Coverage Day celebration, to accelerate the repositioning of primary health care and community health to guarantee quality health. 

In a significant development for public health in Africa, Angola has reported its first case of MPOX (formerly known as Monkeypox), marking a new chapter in the ongoing battle against emerging infectious diseases. From now on, the country is facing an international health challenge that requires rapid and coordinated action, combining science, communication, and compassion to protect the population and reduce stigma.

14 November 2024 – The World Health Organization (WHO) interim Representative in Angola, Dr. Zabulon Yoti, paid an official visit to the Universidade Privada de Angola (UPRA) and was received by Rector Dr. Silvana Rocha da Silveira. The visit provided an opportunity for WHO to gain a deeper understanding of the university’s contributions to community and public health, as well as its extracurricular health initiatives. Dr. Yoti also toured the site of UPRA including its upcoming teaching hospital.

In our constant quest to promote a healthy lifestyle, we still face the challenge of protecting ourselves against pathogens that challenge our immune system. In this context, vaccines emerge as a powerful ally, strengthening our natural defence and reducing disease risk. Exploring the essential role of vaccines in maintaining an entire and healthy life is crucial to understanding how to guarantee energy and vitality in the face of everyday challenges.