In a statement issued at the end of a meeting held this Monday between the Minister of Health, Sílvia Lutucuta, and the newly appointed WHO representative in Angola, Indrajit Hazarika, the organization highlights that "the meeting marked the beginning of a renewed and strengthened partnership between the Government of Angola and the WHO, with a central focus on intensifying the national response to the current cholera outbreak".
According to the document, Hazarika conveyed WHO's commitment to supporting the Government of Angola through comprehensive and strategic interventions. These include strengthening multisectoral coordination, improving case management, enhancing surveillance and case detection, as well as robust risk communication and community engagement.
"This collaboration comes at a critical time, as Angola is experiencing a complex public health scenario characterized by endemic diseases, communicable and non-communicable diseases, neglected tropical diseases and a cholera outbreak that has already affected 17 of the country's 21 provinces," lamented the WHO.
As explained by the health agency, the Ministry of Health, in close coordination with WHO and other development partners, adopted a series of urgent response measures that included "deploying rapid response teams, training health personnel, establishing cholera treatment centers and units, providing safe drinking water, intensive community engagement and launching targeted vaccination campaigns."
The Minister of Health expressed grave concern about the rising number of cases and the tragic loss of life.
"We are deeply saddened to see a continued increase in both cases and deaths, especially among children and young people," said Sílvia Lutucuta.
WHO noted that Angola has successfully contained previous cholera outbreaks and, through decisive leadership, multisectoral coordination and strategic partnerships, the country "is well positioned to overcome this challenge again."
"The combined efforts of the Government of Angola, the WHO, other UN agencies, civil society and the private sector will be crucial to safeguard the health and well-being of all Angolans," he concluded.
Angola has recorded 500 deaths and 13,818 cases of cholera due to the outbreak the country has been facing since January this year, with 17 of the 21 provinces affected, according to data from the Ministry of Health released on Sunday.
The Minister of Health also received this Monday a delegation from the African Union Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC/Africa), highlighting the role of this structure in the strategy to combat cholera in the country, namely in the mobilization of technical teams and access to vaccines.
During the meeting, the CDC/Africa delegation delivered medical products and biosafety equipment to the Ministry of Health, and its director-general, Jean Kaseya, expressed concern about the cholera situation in Angola and guaranteed the reinforcement of technical and logistical support with a view to eradicating the disease in the country, it says in a statement.
According to Kaseya, although Angola currently records around 14,000 cases, it has the lowest numbers in Southern Africa in the same period.
