Benguela - The Health minister  Sílvia Lutucuta worked Saturday in Benguela to learn about the increase in the spread of cholera in the province, which had already registered a cumulative cases 2050 deaths, ANGOP has learned.

The minister is leading a team made up of representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Benguela provincial government, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations Educational, Children's and Cultural Fund (UNICEF) and the Portuguese Institute for Medical Emergencies.

Speaking to the press at the end of the day's work, which took them to some parts of Benguela, Sílvia Lutucuta said that the multisectoral commission had carried out an on-the-spot assessment to find out what was available in terms of water supply.

"The Secretaries of State for Energy and Water and for the Environment are here to work on a strategy to strengthen the water supply and to install latrines in the communities, using local materials, because the most critical areas have open defecation," she explained.

Sílvia Lutucuta said the province has strengthened epidemiological and laboratory surveillance, case management and the gradual opening of treatment and hydration centres to reduce the increase in cases.

The delegation visited a number of sites to see how the epidemic was progressing.

Benguela province covers 39,827 square kilometres and has an estimated population of just over two million.

Since the implementation of the new administrative-political division, the province has 23 municipalities, 17 of which have cholera cases. TC/CRB/TED/AMP