Africa-Press – Angola. The United States donated US$25 million to Angola to support health workers who are on the front lines in the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, announced, Wednesday (06), in Luanda, the United States Undersecretary of State. of America.
Wendy Sherman, who was speaking at the launch of the Global VAX initiative in Luanda, said that the financial value will also be used to purchase more doses of vaccines, helping to fill the information gaps and misinformation that can reduce people’s confidence.
The new investment donated by the US, stressed Wendy Sherman, raises the total support for the response against Covid-19, in a total of 39 million dollars that Angola has already received.
According to the United States Under Secretary of State, Angola is one of 11 countries with which the US will work in a special way, in close collaboration, as part of our Global VAX initiative.
One of the reasons Angola is one of 11 Global VAX US partners is that it has a long and incredibly strong history of working together to address Angola’s major health concerns.
Over the last two decades, said Wendy Sherman, the US has provided a total of US$630 million to address health needs in Angola and to support the national health system.
Regarding the fight against the pandemic, Wendy Sherman said that Angola had an incredible success. For example, in Luanda, 77 percent of people eligible for vaccination received at least one dose.
Luanda’s success, he said, can be extended to the other provinces of the country, with the help of the Global VAX initiative that has just been launched in the Angolan capital.
In addition to helping to combat the Covid-19 pandemic, the United States Undersecretary of State said, there is the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) that is working in partnership with the First Lady’s program of Angola “Born Free to Shine”.
With regard to malaria, Wendy Sherman said that Angola recorded, in the last year, 20 percent fewer deaths in provinces that received US support.
The Minister of State for the Social Area, Carolina Cerqueira said that the Global VAX initiative will join the national effort to get the vaccine to every citizen, particularly in the most remote areas, with the prospect of expanding vaccination.
Carolina Cerqueira said that Angola is responding to the pandemic through vaccination in a context of economic difficulties, where the commitment and dedication of health technicians with the help of Defense and Security bodies, ensured success.
The Minister of State for Social Affairs said that the US government’s support for the fight against Covid-19 began with the donation of eight million doses of Pfizer vaccine, which allowed 3.8 million people to be vaccinated with two doses.
So far, stressed Carolina Cerqueira, 12.2 million people have been vaccinated with the first dose and 4.6 million with the second, in a population estimated at 18 million eligible people.
Carolina Cerqueira said that the success in fighting the pandemic was due to the creation of a multisectoral, technically capable structure that allowed the Angolan Executive to be guided in a courageous, fast and assertive way.
Despite its disastrous effects on the economy and health, the Minister of State recalled, Covid-19 turned out to be an opportunity to improve physical infrastructure, increase human resources, strengthen health laboratories, intensify epidemiological surveillance and health education of the population.
Carolina Cerqueira took the opportunity to give special thanks for USAID’s support and involvement in health in Angola, particularly in the control of HIV/AIDS Malaria, as well as in the field of child nutrition.
For More News And Analysis About Angola Follow Africa-Press
