The inauguration of the hospital is part of João Lourenço's visit to Cunene, where he landed on Friday afternoon and was welcomed with "much joy, songs and a range of dances that make up the cultural mosaic of the province", according to a note from the Cunene government, to which VerAngola had access.
At the inauguration ceremony, the head of state, accompanied by the first lady of the Republic, Ana Dias Lourenço, unveiled the plaque for the new hospital unit.
Among the services offered by this hospital, which has 220 beds, the hemodialysis service stands out, which began operating even before the hospital was inaugurated.
This is the first hemodialysis service in the province and began operating last Wednesday. The event was attended by the Minister of Health, Sílvia Lutucuta, and the Governor of Cunene, Gerdina Dilalelwa, who spoke to the first patients to benefit from this service.
In addition, the hospital unit – which is located in the Naipalala III neighbourhood and began construction in 2021, in a project valued at 52 million euros (around 56 million dollars) – also provides a variety of services such as pediatrics, emergency, stomatology, obstetrics, endoscopy, ophthalmology, simple and computerised x-rays and surgery, etc.
According to Angop, the 'General Simione Mucune' hospital has 26 blocks, as well as four operating blocks and four inpatient units, and in addition to the hemodialysis service, the hospital also includes psychiatric inpatient care, eight residences for doctors and a blood bank.
It should also be noted that the human capital that will ensure the hospital's operation has been safeguarded, with a total of 45 doctors having completed specializations in various areas, both outside Cunene and locally. However, according to Angop, the Ministry of Health has also mobilized some more experienced specialists to ensure the services provided by the new unit, and workers will be gradually hired until the normal staff, corresponding to more than 1300 professionals, is filled.
It should be recalled that João Lourenço, on July 19, had already announced that the new hospital in Cunene would open within two weeks, when he spoke to the press after having inaugurated the Cacuaco General Hospital that same day.
The head of state arrived in Cunene this Friday, where he will remain until Sunday. In this three-day work journey, in addition to the inauguration of the hospital, his agenda also includes, for Saturday, the meeting of the Local Government Council, while on Sunday, he will travel to the municipality of Cuvelai where he will see the construction of the Ndué dam.
