Addis Ababa - The Angolan Minister of Health, Sílvia Lutucuta, on Friday in Addis Ababa, defended the fundamental role of Angola's collaboration with the African Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), in addition to the World Health Organization (WHO), to fight together for better health on the continent.
Speaking to the press at the end of President João Lourenço's visit to the Africa CDC, the minister called on all Member States to mobilize around the same goals to strengthen local capacity in the health sector.
The minister called for increased financial resources to continue investing in health, especially in increasing the production of medicines and vaccines, after praising President João Lourenço's sensitivity to social issues, especially those related to health on the continent.
Angola, said the minister, is creating the conditions to have a smaller center for disease control, in order to have a detailed monitoring of epidemics.
The minister called on national professionals with the necessary capacities and requirements to join the staff of the Africa CDC, as well as other international organizations in Africa and around the world.
Africa CDC
The Africa Center for Disease Control and Prevention is an autonomous continental health agency of the AU established to support Member States' public health initiatives and strengthen the capacity of their public health institutions to detect, prevent, control and respond rapidly and effectively to disease threats.
It supports AU Member States in providing coordinated and integrated solutions to gaps in their public health infrastructure, human resource capacity, disease surveillance, laboratory diagnostics, and preparedness and response to health emergencies and disasters.
Established by the 26th Ordinary Session of Heads of State and Government in January 2016 and formally launched in January 2017, it is guided by the principles of leadership, credibility, ownership, delegated authority, timely dissemination of information, and transparency in its day-to-day activities.
It also aims to assist Member States in bridging the capacity gaps required to comply with the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005).
FMA/SR/VIC/CF
