Angola News

In a concerted effort led by the Ministry of Health and supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO), Angola has outlined a comprehensive strategy to eradicate Guinea worm disease (GWD). This initiative, which involves public and private institutions, national and international organizations, and civil society, aims to protect the Angolan population from this debilitating disease.

Luanda – One morning in late January 2025, Julia Armando found her 68-year-old mother collapsed on the floor, suffering from severe diarrhoea and vomiting. “It’s a situation I’ve never seen before… it was a shock to see my mother lying on the floor without strength,” she says. Armando rushed her mother to the nearest cholera treatment centre, where she was treated and thankfully made a full recovery.

Bengo, 22 February 2025 – The World Health Organization (WHO) participated in a high-level multisectoral field visit to Bengo led by the Minister of Health, Dr. Sílvia Lutucuta, to assess ongoing efforts in the fight against cholera. The visit included the Governor of Bengo, Antónia Nelumba, the Minister of Environment, Ana Carvalho as well as several deputy ministers, and key international partners, including the World Bank, Africa CDC, UNICEF, and the Red Cross. 

For more than twenty-five years of volunteering in his community, 55-year-old Celestino Mbambali has witnessed countless health emergencies, including cholera outbreaks. A qualified nurse by profession, he was always concerned about the lack of a health center in his neighborhood and, driven by his commitment to his neighbors, decided to take action.

After weeks of anguish and uncertainty, the sun shines again in the Paraíso neighborhood in Cacuaco. In his wheelchair, António is wheeled towards the vaccination team at the local community center. Once filled with worry and sadness, his gaze now conveys relief and gratitude. The cholera that devastated so many lives in his neighborhood has left a trail of pain. He has lost friends and neighbors. However, as he approaches the vaccination team, a genuine smile appears.

Luanda – Antonio Morais, from Paraíso neighborhood in Cacuaco, one of Luanda’s nine municipalities, has witnessed friends and neighbours succumb to cholera. So, when Morais heard about an oral cholera vaccination campaign as part of Angola’s efforts to step up outbreak control, he was first in line to receive a vaccine. “I feel relieved, as I know that vaccines save lives,” he says.

On February 3rd and 4th, around one million people, including children and adults, will be vaccinated against cholera in Luanda, Bengo and Icolo e Bengo. The initiative, led by the Ministry of Health, has the support of The World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Bank.

Speech by H.E. Dr Zahira Virani, Resident Coordinator of the UN System in Angola, on launching the Cholera Vaccination Campaign. 

Her Excellency, Minister of Health, Dr. Silvia Lutucuta; 

On the day dedicated to Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs), the Government of Angola and its partners renewed their commitment to working together to accelerate efforts to eradicate and eliminate these diseases, particularly guinea worm, leprosy, trypanosomiasis which continue to affect the health and well-being of the population. 

Luanda, Angola, 25 January 2025 – The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with Angola’s health authorities, is intensifying efforts on the ground to combat the cholera outbreak that has affected the country since 7 January 2025. With 1,016 reported cases and 43 deaths to date, WHO teams are actively supporting surveillance, case management, testing, and community-level interventions.