Luanda, 5 April 2016 - The WHO Director-General, Dr. Margaret Chan and the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti are on a joint visit to Angola in support of the country’s effort to contain the further spread of a yellow outbreak.

This high level delegation is in the country to gain firsthand information on the actions that have been taken to respond to the current yellow fever outbreak that Angola is facing since December 2015, in order to identify any necessary additional support. The WHO delegation will be also informed on the progress and challenges in the health sector in Angola.

On Monday, the delegation held a meeting with the UN Resident Coordinator and other heads of UN Agencies to brief them on the support being provided to the health sector in response to the yellow fever outbreak and to discuss the impacts of the outbreak to the country’s development and economic situation.

The WHO delegation also visited healthcare facilities to observe the ongoing yellow fever vaccination campaign in Luanda Province accompanied by Dr. Luis Sambo, Minister of Health, Dr. Paolo Balladelli, UN Resident Coordinator in Angola, Dr.Hernando Agudelo, WHO Representative and by other national and provincial health authorities. 

On Tuesday, 5 April, the delegation held meetings with the Ministers of Health, Finance, Foreign Affairs and the Economy, heads of diplomatic missions multilateral cooperation agencies, the private sector and others.  The visit is expected to end with a press conference to be held at the Ministry of Health on Tuesday at 17:30 hour.

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