Luanda: The "President Julius Nyerere" Burn Hospital will strengthen Angola's reference network for treating patients with severe, complex burns, Jamel Kitumba, Director-General of the Institute for Health Specialization, stated in Luanda on Sunday. The statement was made during the National Seminar on Burn Patient Care, organized by the Ministry of Health, which aimed to standardize referral procedures for burn patients.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the new facility will not replace the care provided at other health institutions in the country but will integrate into the national referral system, receiving patients with the most severe injuries following clinical assessment at their initial health units. Kitumba explained that patients should continue to seek care at the nearest health facilities for initial treatment; following clinical assessment, cases requiring highly specialized care will be referred to the specialized hospital.
For the director, the new Burn Center represents a decisive step toward strengthening the national specialized care network, enabling better coordination among the different levels of the National Health System, reducing response times and mortality rates, and minimizing the long-term effects of complex burns. The new President Julius Nyerere Burn Center will feature 252 beds in a six-story building, including operating suites with six surgical rooms.
Regarding training, Jamel Kitumba announced that the Ministry of Health launched an emergency program in 2025 covering 4,000 nurses across specialties such as intensive care, emergency and trauma, anesthesiology and resuscitation, and dermatology with a focus on wound care. Among the trainees, 200 nurses are in the final stage of their specialization and are expected to complete their training this December.
The speaker also announced the launch of a master's program in Family Health, developed in partnership with Brazil's Oswaldo Cruz Foundation. The course will last two years and will initially involve 54 health professionals selected through a public competitive process.
Meanwhile, Antonieta Guilherme, Clinical Director of the Neves Bendinha Specialized General Hospital, revealed that following the facility's renovation in 2023, the mortality rate was reduced by 50% and the number of surgeries increased by approximately 60%. According to the specialist, children aged zero to four-particularly boys-make up the most affected group.
She explained that the hospital receives an average of 20 burn patients per day, about five of whom require hospitalization. Domestic accidents involving scalding liquids remain the leading cause, especially among children. The clinical director urged families to strengthen prevention measures by keeping children out of the kitchen during meal preparation and preventing them from handling stoves or containers holding hot liquids.
She also recommended greater attention to workplace safety, advocating for the use of personal protective equipment by masons, electricians, and other professionals at risk of burns, as well as purchasing gas cylinders only from authorized outlets to prevent accidents caused by improper refilling. The seminar brought together around 500 in-person participants, in addition to hundreds of professionals who followed the proceedings virtually. The initiative also involved Brazilian specialists from leading burn treatment hospitals, who shared their experiences regarding the organization of care for burn patients.
