On the day dedicated to Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), the Government of Angola and its partners renewed their commitment to working together to accelerate efforts to eradicate and eliminate these diseases, particularly guinea worm, leprosy, trypanosomiasis which continue to affect the health and well-being of the population. 

Since the first case of guinea worm was reported in Cunene province in 2018, the country has recorded 134 cases, including 131 animal infections and three human cases. Before 2018, Angola had controlled the disease and was to be officially declared free of guinea worm.

According to the Secretary of State for Public Health, Dr Carlos Pinto de Sousa, of the 21 NTDs in the world, 17 prevail in Angola with a negative impact on the lives of people and communities, namely preventing children from attending school and adults from working, worsening poverty in communities. For this reason, he added, “Angola has sought to expand innovative initiatives, including intensifying the One Health approach, centred on the health of people and animals, to eliminate NTDs.” 

“Angola needs to meet the challenge of eliminating at least one NTDs by 2030 and honour national and international commitments to combat these diseases. In this context, I call on everyone to get involved, especially donors, to mobilise more funding to eliminate NTDs”.

Neglected Tropical Diseases seriously affect more than 1.5 billion people worldwide, leaving poor and vulnerable populations often debilitated and consequently perpetuating a cycle of poor educational outcomes and professional opportunities for populations.

The WHO Representative in Angola, Dr Zabulon Yoti, said that the presence of NTDs is a constant reminder of the inequalities in the world. Adding that “given the profound implications of NTDs on people’s lives, the WHO has set this year’s theme for World Day for Neglected Tropical Diseases: UNITE, ACT – ELIMINATE”.

“This theme invites us to reflect on the profound effects of NTD on the well-being and livelihoods of the most vulnerable population. We would therefore like to ask everyone to unite to ensure greater visibility of NTDs and the suffering they cause in people’s lives; to accelerate awareness, prevention, and mobilization of the necessary resources; and that bold and sustainable investments are made to eliminate NTDs in Angola, in particular guinea worm, as soon as possible.”

To draw attention to the suffering they cause and raise support for their control, elimination, or eradication, on 31 May 2021, the 74th World Health Assembly recognized 30 January as World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day. 

A ceremony marked the celebration of World NTD Day in Angola to reflect on national efforts to eliminate NTDs, with the participation of members of the government, Members of the National Assembly, health professionals and national and international partners. It also saw the participation of people affected by NTDs, who shared the successes of prevention and protection interventions and the harmful impacts of the disease on their lives, as well as the organization of an exhibition on interventions to combat NTDs in the country.