Angola holds methodological meeting to strengthen child immunization efforts

ANGOLA— The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), convened a crucial methodological meeting in Luanda from August 20 to 22.

This meeting brought together partners and healthcare professionals from all of Angola’s provinces with a shared mission: to ensure that every child in the country is vaccinated and protected against vaccine-preventable diseases.

The Expanded Programme on Vaccination (EPV) was at the center of discussions, with Dr. Zabulon Yoti, the Acting WHO Representative in Angola, emphasizing its importance.

 Dr. Yoti highlighted that this meeting is a testament to the collective resolve to safeguard Angola’s children from diseases that can be prevented through vaccination.

 He further stressed that vaccination is one of the most vital measures for protecting lives and encouraged stakeholders to unite in sharing experiences, learning from the past, and planning for a future where vaccine-preventable diseases are eradicated in Angola.

Adding to this, Andrew Trevett, the Deputy Representative of UNICEF in Angola, highlighted the fundamental role of the immunization program, particularly in a health system grappling with the dual burden of communicable and non-communicable diseases.

 He noted that beyond protecting against preventable diseases, the EPV also strengthens community health, reduces child mortality, and improves overall community satisfaction.

Trevett emphasized the necessity of enhancing the effectiveness of strategies and building capacity to address the needs of the most vulnerable populations, especially those in remote areas where children have never been vaccinated.

The Angolan government has made considerable investments in healthcare in recent years, including constructing and renovating health facilities, expanding the national health service network, and improving the cold chain infrastructure.

Additionally, the government has increased its healthcare workforce and provided specialized training in vaccination, all aimed at improving vaccine supply and coverage.

However, despite these efforts and the progress made, Angola continues to face significant challenges in ensuring comprehensive immunization.

According to WHO data, Angola is among the top three countries in the African region with the highest number of zero-dose children—those who have not received any vaccinations.

An estimated half a million children in Angola have yet to receive essential vaccines such as Penta 1 and Penta 3.

To address this gap, the WHO is supporting the Angolan government in implementing the Middle-Income Countries Zero Doses Project (MICS), which aims to strengthen vaccination efforts in 22 municipalities across five provinces with the highest number of unvaccinated children.

In addition to these efforts, Angola is grappling with an ongoing polio outbreak, which was triggered by the importation of the virus from neighboring countries.

To date, 16 cases of the virus have been confirmed in six provinces: Luanda, Huambo, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, Moxico, and Benguela.

In response, health authorities conducted two vaccination campaigns in May and June, achieving high coverage rates of around 78 percent and 84 percent of municipalities in the first and second rounds, respectively.

A third, extended vaccination campaign is planned for September as part of continued efforts to control the outbreak.

Dr. Carlos Pinto de Sousa, Angola’s Secretary of State for Public Health, acknowledged the government’s structural and financial challenges in increasing vaccination coverage and ensuring that no child is left behind.

However, he expressed confidence in the leadership and commitment of all stakeholders to overcome these obstacles and significantly reduce the number of zero-dose children.

Dr. Pinto de Sousa emphasized that vaccines are one of the most powerful tools available for protecting lives and preventing diseases like polio, which alleviates pressure on the health system and allows resources to be allocated to other critical areas.

The methodological meeting in Luanda represents a pivotal moment for Angola’s vaccination efforts.

It provides an opportunity to conduct a thorough assessment of routine immunization indicators, evaluate the progress of the Zero-Doses MICs Project, review the National Vaccination Campaign Plan for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer, and define the strategy for the upcoming National Polio Vaccination Campaign.

 These discussions and the resulting initiatives are essential for advancing the country’s immunization efforts and ensuring that all Angolan children are protected from vaccine-preventable diseases.

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