Day: April 6, 2022

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WB approves USD 300 mln funding to support climate resilience

Luanda – The World Bank’s Board of Directors has approved a USD 300 million financing to support the Government of Angola to improve water supply and strengthen water resources management for greater climate resilience in some areas of the country.

The funding will support the project called Climate Resilience and Water Security in Angola or RECLIMA, which will be co-financed by the French Development Agency (AFD), through a loan denominated in Euros, equivalent to USD150 million.

For the World Bank, climate change threatens water security and livelihoods in Angola, according to a note sent to ANGOP.

The project will be implemented in the provinces of Zaire, Benguela, Huila, Kwanza sul, Cuando Cubango, Cunene, Namibe and Luanda, benefiting around 1.2 million people.

The Climate Resilience and Water Security Project in Angola or RECLIMA will finance physical investments in urban and rural areas.

It will also include institutional development activities to increase water security and help manage extreme weather effects, from the national and basin up to the municipal level.

According to this international financial institution, the country’s high degree of exposure to extreme weather events further threatens its economic stability and the safety and well-being of its population.

According to the WB, the most recent drought that hit the country, between November 2020 and January 2021, was described as the worst drought in the last 40 years.

“Climate change is a reality that can no longer be ignored, and Angola is one of the countries in the region that most suffers from its consequences,” said Jean-Christophe Carret.

The WB’s National Director for Angola, quoted in the document, reiterated support from the Bank to the country, putting in place sustainable adaptation measures that mitigate the impact of climate change on people and their livelihoods.

The RECLIMA project has three components, the first component includes the rehabilitation and expansion of water supply services in urban and peri-urban areas, as well as the maintenance and repair of rural water supply systems.

The second component aims to support selected provinces and their municipalities with investments in the development of water resources that include investments in infrastructure at the community level to increase reliable access to water resources through the rehabilitation and construction of sand dams, cisterns, small reservoirs .

It also provides for piped water supply, boreholes, protected wells and soil and water conservation measures in selected hydrographic basins.

The third component is to support project management and inter-institutional coordination.

The World Bank is one of the international financial institutions that has supported the efforts of the Government of Angola.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

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Portuguese state bank CGD committed to Angolan market

Luanda – The CEO of the Portuguese state saving bank Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD) Paulo Macedo Wednesday in Luanda expressed the financial institution’s availability to continue supporting infrastructure construction projects in Angola.

CGD availability was expressed at the end of an audience the Angolan President, João Lourenço, granted to Paulo Macedo during which he reaffirmed the importance of the Angolan market, where he intends to continue supporting projects for the construction of new infrastructures.

“We will continue the partnership. There are several projects in the pipeline linked to infrastructure. We will study and analyse them”, declared the chair person of the executive committee of Caixa Geral de Depósitos de Portugal.

According to him, the visit to Angola has several objectives, among which, to greet President João Lourenço and the bank’s plans, which are to continue to grow organically in Angola.

According to the chairman of the bank’s Executive Committee, Angola plays an important role in the Caixa group, “since there are Portuguese companies, there is a Portuguese community, there is a role to play here”.

CGD, as a shareholder of Banco Caixa Geral de Angola, after a period of recapitalization, restructuring, maintained its presence in Angola.

Paulo Macedo put at 4.9 billion euros the recapitalisation of the Portugueses state saving bank Caixa Geral de Depósitos.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

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UN supports Angola’s transition to Middle Income Country

Luanda – The resident coordinator of the United Nations in Angola Zahira Virami reaffirmed Wednesday the support of the UN system in the preparation process of Angola’s transition from Least Developed Country to Middle Income Country.

Speaking at the seminar on Angola’s National Smooth Transition Strategy (ENTS), she considered it to be another step for Angola in its sustainable, equitable, inclusive growth for all Angolans, “leaving no one behind”.

She assured that the UN will continue to help the country in planning of the strategy, look ahead and direct efforts and measures towards a graduation with momentum.

“ The steps and partnership between the Government of Angola and the United Nations system towards the national smooth transition strategy have been significant. I praise Angola’s efforts that demonstrate a willingness and determination to find constructive solutions in the transformation”, she considered.

Zahira Virami also said that it is an opportunity for Angola to review its opportunities and support measures that can strengthen the country’s efforts on the way to graduation.

She added that these efforts make it possible to boost progress towards raising the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the country.

The official highlighted that graduation is a milestone, “but it is essential to have a perspective of the structural challenges as the country’s potential for a general approach towards a more sustainable development in line with the 2030 agenda”.

In turn, the director of the Division for Africa, Developing Countries and Special Programmes of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Paul Akiwumi, highlighted that, in the transition process, the formalization of the economy plays a fundamental role. .

He also stressed Angola needs to prepare and coordinate its actions to become a middle-income country.

“Angola is a rich country and has natural resources. It is necessary to plan properly so that it can move from this to another level. We are here to help the Government of Angola,” he said.

The seminar on Angola’s National Soft Transition Strategy (ENTS) served to discuss the elements of the Strategy, aiming to create a platform to assess the best way to smooth the graduation of Angola from Least Developed Country (LDC) to middle income country.

The event was promoted by the Government of Angola with the support by the United Nations System and the representation of UNCTAD.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

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Tuberculosis is not a death sentence -survivor’s path to recovery

Akwa, 6 April, 2022 – When 29 years old Mr Ede John Chimobi, a native of Mgbiji in Isuuzor Local Government Area (LGA), Enugu state, tested positive for tuberculosis (TB), he was shocked as he never considered himself to be at risk.

Mr Chimobi, who works as security personnel, had been feeling unwell – coughing at night, his chest was hurting, sweating, and not sleeping well.

He first got some drugs from chemist shops, but it worsened. He visited the hospital after a concerned neighbour advised him to seek medical attention at the hospital.

My neighbour said “you are coughing too much. Why not go to Mile 4 hospital? They will help you out”.

Mr Ede said he is glad he heeded the advice.

Following his physician’s assessment, as per the presentation of his signs and symptoms, he was tested for TB, and his result was positive.

“At the hospital, they explained to me that TB is airborne, and it can affect any one of us especially when we are in contact with an untreated patient. I had to take my brother to the hospital for testing as instructed by the nurse. He was also diagnosed of TB.

Mr Chimaobi had also infected his younger brother who was sleeping with him in same room before his diagnosis.

He was placed on a 6-month treatment of 4 combination drugs as an outpatient but strictly supervised by a family member.

For my own treatment, I was on admission in the hospital for 2 months as I was severely sick and provided with good food. After I was discharged, I went back to my normal lifestyle of drinking and smoking. I did not complete the remaining 4 months of the medications and so the disease resurfaced again,” he said.

Relapse

This time, Mr Chimaobi was diagnosed with Drug Resistant Tuberculosis (DR-TB). Usually DR-TB occurs when bacteria become resistant to the first line drugs used to treat TB.

“I went back to Mile 4 hospital, and the nurses told me that I had DR-TB because I had stopped taking the medications for complete duration of 6 months due to my bad lifestyle. I was re-admitted and treated for 4months and thereafter discharged to continue treatment in the community in a health facility close to where I reside for the remaining 7 months. Now that I am better, I have quit smoking and drinking alcohol.

I am now healthy and wish to reiterate that the first and second treatments I received were free,” he said.

Battling stigma

Getting back to the community was not easy as some of Mr Chimaobi’s friends and family stigmatized him during his ailment.

Some friends and family members were avoiding me. It was only my mother that stood by me. My mother was very supportive. She took care of me until I recovered. The nurses advised my mother to wear a face mask to avoid getting infected since the disease is airborne.

Government and partners’ intervention

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the top infectious killer diseases, and every day, about 4,100 women, men and children die, while 30,000 people fall ill from the disease. Nigeria ranks sixth amongst 30 countries with the highest-burden globally and first in Africa in the number of undetected cases.

Since Mr Chimaobi returned home, he said he has been using his experience to encourage people coughing to get tested.

“I used my story to encourage people with cough of 2 or more weeks’ duration to get tested and that TB is curable. For instance, after I came back from the hospital, a friend we used to share cigarettes with started coughing. I advised him to go to Mile 4 for a TB test, and he was adamant, claiming it was an ordinary cough. I insisted, narrating my experience to him and the common TB symptoms.

He finally agreed to go for the test and behold he was found to have TB. After receiving treatment, he felt better and was happy, claiming I preserved his life,” he said.

The World Health Organization (WHO), in collaboration with the National Tuberculosis, Buruli Ulcer and Leprosy Control Program (NTBLCP) and other partners working on TB control and elimination in Nigeria, have been providing support towards implementation of some strategic interventions to improve TB case findings in the country.

Mr Chimaobi is one of the TB survivors in the country who received excellent treatment and support services through the government implemented TB program that provides free TB services with support from partners and the WHO.

In 2021, Nigeria notified 207,785 TB cases; 50% higher compared to the notified 138,591 cases in 2020.

Source: World Health Organization. Africa

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Africa faces rising climate-linked health emergencies

Brazzaville – Climate-related health emergencies are on the rise in Africa, accounting for more than half of public health events recorded in the region over the past two decades, a new analysis by World Health Organization (WHO) shows.

The analysis found that of the 2121 public health events recorded in the African region between 2001 and 2021, 56% were climate-related. The region is witnessing an increase in climate-linked emergencies, with 25% more climate-related events recorded between 2011 and 2021 compared with the previous decade.

World Health Day is being marked on 7 April under the theme “Our Planet. Our Health.” WHO is calling on governments to, among other recommendations, prioritize human well-being in all key decisions, stop new fossil fuel explorations and subsidies, tax polluters and implement WHO air quality guidelines.

“Climate change is one of the greatest threats to humanity. The entire foundation of good health is in jeopardy with increasingly severe climatic events. In Africa, frequent floods, water- and vector-borne diseases are deepening health crises. Although the continent contributes the least to global warming, it bears the full consequences,” said Dr Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa.

The WHO analysis found that water-borne diseases accounted for 40% of the climate-related health emergencies over the past two decades. In Africa, diarrhoeal diseases are the third leading cause of disease and death in under 5 children. A significant proportion of these deaths is preventable through safe drinking water, adequate sanitation and hygiene.

The analysis also showed that vector-borne diseases, notably yellow fever, accounted for 28% of the climate-related health emergencies, while zoonotic diseases, specifically Congo-Crimean haemorrhagic fever, were the third most prevalent. Congo-Crimean haemorrhagic fever is a viral disease transmitted to people from ticks and livestock and has an outbreak fatality rate of up to 40%.

Natural disasters have also spiked dramatically since 2010, with 70% of all-natural disasters occurring between 2017 and 2021. Floods were the most frequent event, accounting for 33% of all the reported natural disasters.

Africa is also grappling with other significant health impacts linked to climatic shocks including malnutrition and hunger due to adverse weather on agricultural production, long-term health and development challenges in children, as well as other infectious diseases such as malaria.

In Africa, climate change is likely to expand the range of malaria high-risk zones, according to a report by the Netherlands-based Global Centre on Adaptation. Even though malaria mortality has decreased from 840 000 deaths in 2000 to 602 000 deaths in 2020, the disease remains a major health challenge on the continent.

Climate change impact is also likely to slow the progress against hunger, with an additional 78 million people in Africa facing chronic hunger by 2050, according to the report.

WHO is supporting countries to reinforce their health systems to adapt, be more resilient and better cope with climate-linked emergencies. The measures include assessing health system weaknesses, developing and implementing measures to cushion people’s lives and health from the adverse consequences of climate-related health crises.

The Organization is also assisting governments to ensure that their ministries of health can effectively coordinate, improve understanding and monitor climate change risks and impacts on health. Progress is being made. For instance, in Ethiopia, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania, WHO has worked with the health authorities to set up an early warning and response system to predict the risk of vector- and water-borne disease and respond effectively.

WHO takes a “One Health and All Hazards” approach to climate-related public health events. The approach is based on the premise that human, animal and ecosystem health is interconnected and requires a coordinated approach to tackle and resolve the challenges. As such WHO works closely with experts and partner organizations in public, animal, plant and environmental health to reduce public health risks attributable to climate change.

Source: World Health Organization. Africa

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Angola: 11 parties confirmed to run in next elections

Luanda – Eleven political parties are qualified, so far, to run in the general elections in Angola, scheduled for August this year, according to a source from the Constitutional Court (TC).

The director of the Office of Political Parties of Constitutional Court, Mauro Alexandre, said this Wednesday, in Luanda, adding that the parties are MPLA, UNITA, the FNLA, the Democratic Bloc and the Social Renewal Party (PRS).

Also confirmed Democratic Party for Progress – Angolan National Alliance (PDP-ANA) and the Support Party for Democracy and Development of Angola – Patriotic Alliance (PADDA-AP).

The list covers Angolan Majority Free Alliance Party (PALMA), the Angolan Pacific Party (PPA), the National Salvation Party of Angola (PNSA) and the Atlantic Democratic Party (PDA).

Mauro Alexandre, who was speaking to National Radio Station (RNA), clarified that the TC has 10 requests from the installing commissions of political parties, stressing the need to comply with the requirements of the law on registration as political party.

He recalled that one of the requirements is to obtain 7,500 signatures and have at least 150 signatures in each province of the country.

The director said that in the last three years the TC has received requests from the installing commissions of the United Patriotic Front and the political project PRA-JA Servir Angola, having concluded that they are not political or legal entities.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

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Angolan high profile military delegation expected in United State

Luanda – An Angolan delegation headed by the Minister of State and Head of the Military Affairs Office to the President of the Republic Francisco Pereira Furtado is expected in Washington DC (US) to mark the 5th anniversary of the signing of the memorandum of understanding, in the defence sector, between the two countries.

The information is expressed in a press release from the Angolan diplomatic representation in the US, to which ANGOP had access Wednesday (6th).

The Memorandum was signed on May 17, 2017, by the then Minister of Defense, and current President of the Republic of Angola, João Lourenço, and by the Department of Defence of the United States of America, the former Secretary of Defence, General James Mattis.

The delegation includes the Chief of the General Staff of the Angolan Armed Forces, army general António Egídio de Sousa e Santos, the deputy director of the External Intelligence Service, Mário António da Costa.

The visiting programme, running from April 6 to 9, 2022, features a trip to DreamPort, laying of a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as a meeting with the deputy director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Paul Abbate.

At the Pentagon, the Angolan delegation will meet with the Undersecretary of Defence for African Affairs, Chidi Blyden, with whom they will discuss regional security issues.

Francisco Pereira Furtado will also meet with the Undersecretary of Defence for Policy, Colin H. Kahl, with whom he will sign a joint declaration.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

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President briefed on preparations for Malabo Summit

Luanda – Angolan head of State João Lourenço was informed Wednesday in Luanda about the preparations for the Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU), scheduled for May, in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea.

The Summit, according to the African Union (AU) Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Bankole Adeoye, who was received in audience by the Angolan Head of State, will address issues related to the fight against terrorism and the unconstitutional change of power in African countries.

Speaking to the press at the end of the meeting, the Nigerian diplomat at the service of the AU said that the holding of the Summit is based on Angola’s experience, in the sense of promoting peace, social cohesion and reconciliation in African States.

Bankole Adeoye said that the occasion served to address the role played by Angola, in the Southern African region, in terms of promoting peace, security and democracy.

He underlined that, within the scope of the promotion of democracy, he discussed with President João Lourenço the availability of the African Union to participate as an observer in the next general elections to be held in the country, in August of this year.

“We are very pleased to receive assurances from the Angolan authorities to continue working with the AU to promote peace, stability and good governance on the continent, for the benefit of African peoples and humanity in general”, he said.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

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UN highlights Angola’s pacifying role

Luanda – The Special Representative of the UN Secretary General and Head of the UN Regional Office for Central Africa, François Fall, recognised Angola’s role in addressing peace and security issues in the region.

Speaking to the press, at the end of a meeting with the head of Angolan top diplomat, Téte António, in Luanda, François Fall highlighted Angola’s performance in resolving peace and security issues in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and in the Central African Republic (CAR).

The senior official of the United Nations considered Angola an influential country and knowledgeable of the peace and security situation in Central Africa, so the “UN counts on its commitment to the political stability of that region”.

The Guinean diplomat, at the service of the UN, arrived Wednesday in Luanda to thank Angola, especially President João Lourenço, for the support extended to him as the UN’s top official in Central Africa.

François Fall ends his working visit to Angola on Thursday (7th), before leaving the country, he will be received in audience by the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, according to a note from the Angolan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

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Portuguese top diplomat visits Angola this month

Luanda – Portuguese minister of Foreign Affairs João Gomes Cravinho will visit Angola on 12th and 13th April, as part of the strengthening of cooperation between the two countries.

The information was released this Wednesday to the press by the Angolan ambassador to Angola, Francisco Alegre Duarte, at the end of an audience the Angolan Head of State, João Lourenço, granted to the CEO of Portuguese state bank Caixa Geral de Depósito, Paulo Macedo.

“Right now, my focus is on working towards this visit, giving it content and sequence to prioritise the strengthening of cooperation relations between both countries,” he said.

The Portuguese diplomat said that the occasion also served to deliver a jersey from the Portuguese football team to President João Lourenço.

According to Francisco Alegre, the jersey was dedicated to the Angolan Head of State, by Portuguese player Cristiano Ronaldo.

“This is a special gesture that underlines the affection of today’s greatest footballer for the Angolan people”, he added.

Source: Angola Press News Agency

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