Africa-Press – Angola. Angola, through the Minister of Health, Sílvia Lutucuta, assumed on Tuesday, in Luanda, the presidency of the Ministerial Health Committee of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), for a period of one year.
During the joint meeting of Health ministers and those responsible for combating HIV/AIDS in SADC, held in a hotel in Luanda, Sílvia Lutucuta also became a member of the E8 secretariat, for a period of three years. E8 is a project that aims to eradicate malaria in the region by 2030.
The minister reiterated the intensification of actions linked to the fight against major endemic diseases, with emphasis on tuberculosis, malaria and HIV/AIDS. Among the concerns, she also highlighted issues linked to malnutrition, logistics, medication regulation, maternal and child health, the fight against sexual violence against women and girls and the development of human capital.
Sílvia Lutucuta defended the active promotion of innovation and research for the development of the regional pharmaceutical industry, guaranteeing autonomy and health security in the region. She considered that the economic and social context imposes on SADC several challenges and immense potential, requiring a strong focus on the development of human capital, to strengthen health systems, boosting economic and social growth and the well-being of the people.
To overcome current challenges, he said collaboration with United Nations agencies and other partners is vital, taking into account that, in addition to funding, they also bring technical experience and best global practices.
Sílvia Lutucuta argued that, to evaluate and chart the future of Health in SADC, member countries must be united, in a shared mission, to eliminate malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS as public health problems. SADC member states must also strengthen sexual and reproductive health rights interventions, nutrition and prevention, preparedness and response to public health emergencies, strengthening resilience in their respective countries.
The minister said that the Angolan Executive has given priority to the social sector, particularly Health, with intense investment in human capital, entry of new professionals, improved access to health services, medicines and construction, rehabilitation and expansion of several health units .
Even so, he recognized that much still needs to be done to achieve a resilient and sustainable health system, which provides equitable access to health care for the population.
WHO promises health improvements
The representative of the World Health Organization (WHO) reiterated the commitment to improving the health of the population of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), with the aim of identifying and treating all cases of communicable diseases, to achieve the goal of zero by 2030.
Josephine Namboze said that to ensure the availability and utilization of essential health services, countries must move from a disease-centered to a people-centered health system, providing services to all age groups.
Non-communicable diseases, he said, are responsible for about 50 percent of all preventable deaths in the region. Regarding malaria, the official recognizes that the disease has a detrimental effect on education, work, employment and economic growth. For this reason, she said she hopes that the malaria vaccines, approved by the WHO RTS, S and R21 / Matrix-M, will have a great impact on reducing cases of the pathology.
Josephine Namboze called on SADC Member States to consider including the two malaria vaccines in the routine immunization schedule for children under five years of age.
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