Luanda, 19 April 2006 -- As part of periodic consultations with the Angolan Government, the WHO Representative, Dr Fatoumata Diallo, met with the Angolan Prime Minister, Mr. Fernando da Piedade Dias Dos Santos, on Wednesday 19th April 2006 to review intersectoral actions to be taken in order to address some important health issues.

Speaking at the end of a meeting with the Angolan Prime Minister, the WHO Representative stressed the need of including the following issues in the national agenda: the acceleration of the HIV-AIDS prevention, the control of the current cholera outbreak, the avian influenza pandemic threat, the reduction of the maternal and child mortality and the adoption of a National Health Policy.

Regarding the HIV-AIDS prevention, the WHO Representative congratulated the Government and the Prime Minister of Angola for endorsing the Regional Initiative to declare "2006, as the Year of the Acceleration of HIV Prevention in the African Region, as recommended by the WHO Regional Committee held in Maputo, in August 2005. However, she expressed "some concerns about the overall co-ordination of HIV/AIDS control activities nationwide".

Concerning the National Health Policy, Dr. Fatoumata Diallo stressed the necessary stewardship and leadership role to be played by the Government and stated that it would be an important milestone if the Prime Minister could chair a consensus meeting on the draft document of the National Health Policy.

Regarding the control of the current countrywide cholera outbreak, Dr Fatoumata Diallo emphasized the urgent need of ensuring the provision of safe water, better sanitation and housing to the majority of the population and improving the food safety as well as effective health education and community mobilization activities at all levels.

She also briefed the Prime Minister on the forthcoming national integrated campaign for the reduction of under 5 children mortality scheduled in July 2006. The campaign will comprise five important health interventions as follows: vaccination against measles and poliomyelitis, supplementation of vitamin "A", the distribution of albendazol for deworming and impregnated mosquito bed nets to prevent Malaria

"If those actions are well implemented, we will succeed in decreasing the high child and maternal morbidity and mortality rates and pave way for containment and control of cholera outbreak and other endemic diseases", she said

In response, the Angolan Prime Minister outlined the programme of the Government till 2007 and promised to continue to work very closely with the WHO to ensure a better health for the Angola people.

It should be noted this is the second consultation meeting between WHO and the Angolan Prime Minister. The first one took place in May 2005, during the Marburg Fever.

For more information, please contact: 

WHO/Angola. Luanda, Angola 
Tel: (244) (244) 222 33 23 98
Fax: (244-2) 33 23 14 
E-Mail: wr [at] ao.afro.who.int