   |
|
afrol.com, 3 November - The Angolan government endorsed a national health program and dramatically increased funding for public health initiatives across the country. At the end of September, the Council of Ministers approved US$ 35 million for the fight against malaria, tuberculosis, leprosy, trypanosomiasis, diarrhea and lung disease. Trypanosomiasis, more commonly known as sleeping sickness, leprosy and tuberculosis, are three of the worst diseases affecting Angolans. The government has earmarked US$ 3 million to combat sleeping sickness, a potentially fatal disease transmitted by the tsetse fly that leaves victims feverish and lethargic. Sleeping sickness strikes more than 100,000 people a year in Angola. Health officials say some 4 million people are at risk. Angola's Minister of Health said priority would be given to training personnel, preventing the spread of diseases, diagnosing diseases, and improving the treatment of the disease. International organizations provide food and medicine The United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) vaccinated about three million children against polio during a national immunization campaign that ended at the beginning of September. The Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the Angolan government signed three agreements to revitalize agricultural production in Huambo and Huíla provinces. The FAO will invest US$ 1.3 million in small projects to support farmers. The other two projects, valued at US$ 300,000 will help farmers resettle in Bengo province. Source: O Pensador
|
