Luanda, Angola, September 29th, 2021 - The World Health Organization (WHO) and its strategic partners launched today in Luanda, the process of drafting the WHO Cooperation Strategy with Angola for the period of 2022 to 2026, aimed at strengthening synergies and defining guidelines that will contribute to improving health in Angola.

The Cooperation Strategy (ECP) represents WHO's medium-term strategic vision and should incorporate old and new challenges and be aligned with the country's priorities defined in the National Health Development Plan (NHDP), the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and other strategic documents, as well as national, regional and international commitments.

According to the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations System in Angola, Zahira Virani, it is important to respond to health challenges in a planned, inclusive and lasting way. Adding that, "partnership is the key word here. "It has to be with a collective effort of the Government, WHO, organizations, the private sector, and all health partners so that together we can achieve the goals advocated for improving the health of Angolans."

Preliminary data from an independent evaluation of WHO's activities in Angola over the past five years show that despite the challenges faced due to the global financial crisis and the emergency adverse situations that affected the country, such as the Marburg outbreak, hemorrhagic fever, among others, with negative consequences on planning and budgeting, WHO's intervention to improve health in Angola has been fundamentally satisfactory.

"WHO has played a leading role in supporting the Government in critical areas such as Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response, Response to Public Health Emergencies, Strengthening of the National Health System, and the control of communicable and non-communicable diseases, including immunization and the fight against neglected tropical diseases," said the Angolan Minister of Health, Dr. Silvia Lutucuta.

"I would like to congratulate WHO for bringing together all health stakeholders, to define the strategy for cooperation with Angola and take the occasion to emphasize the crucial support it has provided to the country, in particular for the eradication of polio and combating the pandemic of COVID19," said Dr. Silvia Lutucuta.

WHO’s Cooperation Strategy is a powerful tool that promotes dialogue beyond the health sector, allows strategic partners to identify health sector constraints, puts Angola at the center of WHO's work, and develops a plan that prioritizes technical assistance for the most critical areas of the Health System.

The WHO Representative in Angola, Dr. Djamila Cabral said that the active participation of the different actors involved in the health sector during the launching ceremony for the elaboration process of the Cooperation Strategy with Angola is a manifestation of everyone's unconditional support and commitment to improving the health of Angolans.

"We are very honored to be able to count on the support of the whole society in defining the priorities and guidelines for WHO’s action in Angola. We are convinced that by working together and united, we can build a better and healthier future for Angolan families. Our commitment, from WHO and it’s staff in Angola, is to continue to contribute towards achievement of Universal Health Coverage in Angola, leaving no one behind"

In addition to the Ministry of Health’s participation in the launch ceremony of the ECP, there were representatives from the Ministries of Transportation, Agriculture, Energy and Water, Economy and Planning, Finance, United Nations Agencies, Diplomatic and Consular Missions, International Organizations, Civil Society, and the Private Sector.

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