In the presentation of the proposed law, the Minister of Health, Sílvia Lutucuta, recalled how "dramatic" it is the inability to procreate, the frustration that causes personal, social and even religious expectations, provoking discrimination, a sense of loss and social exclusion .
Sílvia Lutucuta underlined that the World Health Organization (WHO) considers infertility to be a public health problem.
"It is estimated that in Angola there are between 900,000 and 1.2 million infertile couples, not counting single people in this condition", revealed the minister, stressing that the proposed law aims to "end or minimize the emotional and affective needs of many Angolan families that are condemned to infertility ".
The proposal will also prevent Angolan couples or single people with difficulty in procreation from going abroad, with very high economic costs, not only for the families and people concerned, but also for the country.
"The objective reasons for the presentation and elaboration of this diploma lie in the growing number of people in the country with infertility problems, which constitutes a threat to the stability of many families, and the very positive evolution that we have in the training of staff and infra -structures, which will be prepared in the short term to develop this technique ", he said.
The official stressed that the State also intends to guarantee and combat illegal acts by unqualified professionals, as well as unauthorized health units for these services.
To prepare the draft law, ministerial departments with an interest in the matter were consulted, as well as relevant civil society organizations and professional associations.
Sílvia Lutucuta indicated that the legislative proposal is in line with the National Development Plan 2018-2022, which provides for the improvement of medical and medication assistance, reducing evacuations with medical board to the outside of the country to 55 percent.
In the discussion of the point, several deputies raised questions, namely cultural, as well as doubts regarding the practical implementation of the law.
The Minister of Health thanked the reflections, clarifying that it is a technique with very high costs and, many times, without the results expected by the couples.
"We have very strong cultural aspects, in our reality it is necessary to have children and this is the indication that we have, but we also have to say that we present this proposal for a law after a deep reflection and looking at ethical aspects, dignity and for the necessary regulation ", he explained.
The holder of the Health portfolio stressed that the problem of infertility affects women and men, stressing that the process goes from insemination to 'in vitro fertilization', however, it is in the womb that the fetus grows, a concern raised during the discussion.
Angola already has professionals trained in this area, specialized in international reference centers, ranging from embryologists, geneticists, obstetricians, said the minister, informing that Maternidade Lucrécia Paim already has agreements with several international institutions.
"On the other hand, we are building (...) a large undertaking, a maternal and child hospital, which will be a national reference," said Sílvia Lutucuta, stressing that there will be a combination of the public and private sectors in this matter.
The deputies also approved, in general, unanimously, the proposal of the Law of Volunteering, with 181 votes in favor.
The diploma aims to establish the bases for the promotion of a culture of solidarity, social cohesion and reinforcement of citizenship values, through transversal public policies for the different public and private entities, in particular citizens in their individual dimension.
In the presentation of the proposal, the Minister of Social Action, Family and Promotion of Women, Faustina Alves, highlighted the importance of the law in the current context of the 19-covid pandemic, to reinforce the spirit of solidarity, mutual help in society, as well the culture of social responsibility and citizenship of civil society agents.
