Angola confirms malaria transmission
In an updated memorandum of understanding, the Angolan and Namibian health authorities will work together to not only combat malaria cross-border, but also other illnesses.
The Angolan health minister has confirmed that malaria transmission has increased in Angola and added that the disease is also transmitted to Namibia by Angolans who visit Namibia on daily basis.
Dr Luis Gomes Sambo made this announcement during the commemoration of World Malaria Day at Omafo in Ohangwena on Tuesday. The event also saw the Namibian health minister, Dr Bernhard Haufiku launching a health relationship memorandum to combat common diseases at Oihole in the Cunene Province of Angola.
Sambo commended Namibia's efforts and successes in fighting malaria and he vowed to work with Namibia to make sure that Angola also defeats the disease. However, he said that malaria transmission in Angola is increasing and due to the free movement across the border.
“Like many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, I commend the efforts made by Namibia in combating malaria. Angola is still in progress in this regard and needs to learn from Namibia. Since we are sharing our borders and our culture, we are also sharing diseases through our people who are visiting Namibia,” Sambo said. He they started strengthening border control and improved intervention mechanisms. He said he was also delighted to see Dr Haufiku in Angola with effort to strengthen the health relationship between the two countries.
“We have introduced disease control along the border that includes vaccinations and testing those who are going to, or coming from, Namibia.” This year Haufiku announced a malaria outbreak in the northern region after his ministry reported more than 7 000 cases between January and February alone, while 15 people have died from malaria since the beginning of the year. The ministry reported that most of these cases are coming from Angola and it is against this background that the two ministries launched the memorandum and commemorated Malaria Day together to enable them fight the disease together.
“For us to defeat malaria Namibia and Angola must speak one medical language. It will not help if we are fighting malaria here while Angola is quiet. What is happening in Namibia must be the same in Angola. At the launch in Angola I told the Angolan people that the malaria fight can only be won if they go out en masse and fight malaria in their own communities,” Haufiku said.
He said that the memorandum will not only concentrate on malaria, but also on other diseases such as tuberculosis (TB), HIV and Aids, polio and other diseases. He also said that they are broadening their cooperation which was first established by former health minister Dr Richard Kamwi and former Angolan health minister Dr José Vieira Dias Van-Dúnem. “Our lawyers are busy reviewing policies that govern the existing memorandum of understanding which only focuses on border control.
We would like the relationship to focus on equalising the health system on both sides. This will include health workers' exchanges and treatment programmes to make sure the two countries are on equal footing,” he said.
Haufiku said that for the two nations to successfully fight malaria they must have a task team of community health workers deep in remote areas where people need to be educated on how to prevent malaria and how to respond to malaria symptoms.
ILENI NANDJATO
Dr Luis Gomes Sambo made this announcement during the commemoration of World Malaria Day at Omafo in Ohangwena on Tuesday. The event also saw the Namibian health minister, Dr Bernhard Haufiku launching a health relationship memorandum to combat common diseases at Oihole in the Cunene Province of Angola.
Sambo commended Namibia's efforts and successes in fighting malaria and he vowed to work with Namibia to make sure that Angola also defeats the disease. However, he said that malaria transmission in Angola is increasing and due to the free movement across the border.
“Like many countries in sub-Saharan Africa, I commend the efforts made by Namibia in combating malaria. Angola is still in progress in this regard and needs to learn from Namibia. Since we are sharing our borders and our culture, we are also sharing diseases through our people who are visiting Namibia,” Sambo said. He they started strengthening border control and improved intervention mechanisms. He said he was also delighted to see Dr Haufiku in Angola with effort to strengthen the health relationship between the two countries.
“We have introduced disease control along the border that includes vaccinations and testing those who are going to, or coming from, Namibia.” This year Haufiku announced a malaria outbreak in the northern region after his ministry reported more than 7 000 cases between January and February alone, while 15 people have died from malaria since the beginning of the year. The ministry reported that most of these cases are coming from Angola and it is against this background that the two ministries launched the memorandum and commemorated Malaria Day together to enable them fight the disease together.
“For us to defeat malaria Namibia and Angola must speak one medical language. It will not help if we are fighting malaria here while Angola is quiet. What is happening in Namibia must be the same in Angola. At the launch in Angola I told the Angolan people that the malaria fight can only be won if they go out en masse and fight malaria in their own communities,” Haufiku said.
He said that the memorandum will not only concentrate on malaria, but also on other diseases such as tuberculosis (TB), HIV and Aids, polio and other diseases. He also said that they are broadening their cooperation which was first established by former health minister Dr Richard Kamwi and former Angolan health minister Dr José Vieira Dias Van-Dúnem. “Our lawyers are busy reviewing policies that govern the existing memorandum of understanding which only focuses on border control.
We would like the relationship to focus on equalising the health system on both sides. This will include health workers' exchanges and treatment programmes to make sure the two countries are on equal footing,” he said.
Haufiku said that for the two nations to successfully fight malaria they must have a task team of community health workers deep in remote areas where people need to be educated on how to prevent malaria and how to respond to malaria symptoms.
ILENI NANDJATO
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