Talatona - The Minister of Health, Silvia Lutucuta, defended, on Tuesday, the need for SADC countries to expand preventive efforts, including preparation for the introduction of vaccines with high efficacy against malaria in routine vaccination programs.
The minister, who was speaking at the opening of the joint meeting of the SADC health ministers and responsible for combating HIV/AIDS, said malaria is responsible for 95 percent of cases and deaths in the region.
Although the incidence of tuberculosis decreased in the region between 2016 and 2021, standing at 13 per cent, the Angolan minister said it remains a public health problem, being crucial to strengthen diagnostic and treatment coverage, with adequate resources, qualified staff and diagnostic equipment to reach the goal of ending tuberculosis.
"We face a complex reality in the fight against HIV in the SADC region," Lutucuta said.
The increase in the number of people living with HIV/AIDS is also another concern, the minister said, underlining as positive the expansion of detection and coverage of antiretroviral treatment and the need for efforts to be intensified for the implementation of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights strategy.
The health minister added that child malnutrition is not just a public health problem, it is a crisis that affects the heart of the SADC countries and at a global level, jeopardizing the potential of many children and their future.
As regards childhood obesity, the minister said the response to this problem is not just the responsibility of the health sector, but also of all sectors involved in food safety, sanitation and hygiene and education.
"We need an integrated approach that addresses all aspects of malnutrition," the minister said, having defended access for every child to healthy food, nutritional education and opportunities for an active lifestyle.
The Angolan minister spoke of the need for cooperation between the countries of the region and internationally by sharing knowledge, resources and experiences to strengthen the capacity to face these challenges together to build a safer, more prepared and resilient community.
According to the minister, collaboration with United Nations agencies and other global partners is vital to bring not only funding, but also invaluable technical experience and global best practices.
Available data shows that in 2022 Angola registered 9.2 million cases of malaria, an increase of 0.4 per cent compared to 2021. In the same year, 12,480 deaths from the disease were recorded.VS/VM
