Luanda: Angolan President Joo Lourenço inaugurated the Pedro Maria Tonha "Pedalé" Hospital in Luanda, marking a significant advancement in the nation's healthcare infrastructure. The hospital, with a capacity of 145 beds, is set to be a national reference point for treating highly complex diseases including robotic surgery, organ transplants, oncology, and stroke. According to Angola Press News Agency, the hospital is located in the Morro Bento neighborhood of the capital and spans 32,000 square meters, with over 42,000 square meters of built area divided across four distinct buildings. The main three-story block houses clinical and administrative services, an Advanced Training Center, an Integrated Support Building, a helipad, and a parking lot. Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, President Lourenço, accompanied by First Lady Ana Dias Lourenço, toured the hospital facilities alongside members of the Executive and health sector officials. The Pedalé Hospital Compound is a key component of the government' s strategy for modernizing public health, aiming to enhance responses to serious oncological diseases with services like radiotherapy, radiosurgery, chemotherapy, and brachytherapy, along with specialties such as neurosurgery, robotic surgery, orthopedics, and nuclear medicine. Innovations include a hotline for acute stroke treatment, breast cancer treatment, and advanced imaging with the first 3TESLA-based magnetic resonance imaging. With this facility, experts anticipate a reduction in the stroke mortality rate from 50 percent to just 10 percent. Stroke is a leading cause of death and disability in Angola, with 70% of survivors experiencing severe after-effects and half requiring permanent care, a situation the new hospital aims to improve. The hospital also features 36 outpatient clinics, 16 examination rooms, 36 hemodialysis chairs, two radiotherapy and radiosurgery rooms, nuclear medicine facilities, delivery rooms, an intermediate care unit with 16 beds, five laboratories, a robotic surgery training c enter, and two nuclear accelerators. Additionally, the complex includes a gym and a residential building with 20 two-bedroom apartments. A heliport is available for evacuating critically ill patients from other provinces, enhancing the hospital's capacity to handle critical situations. The emergency room will have restricted access, accepting only patients referred by other health units. In terms of human capital, the hospital, with a budget exceeding US$100 million, will employ over 1,600 staff, including 700 new hires through a public tender. During its construction, the project provided employment and training opportunities for many young Angolans, employing 1,350 workers at its peak, including 1,320 Angolans and 30 expatriates. The investment in cutting-edge technology positions this facility among the most modern in the country, with the Executive aiming to reduce financial resources spent on evacuations and specialized training abroad. Before unveiling the plaque, cutting the ribbon, and touring the hospital, President Lourenço and his aides viewed a documentary on the project's execution and a video tribute to Army General Pedro Maria Tonha "Pedalé." The hospital pays tribute to General Pedro Maria Tonha "Pedalé," a national liberation hero and former Minister of National Defense. Born in Cabinda, he was noted for his significant contributions to the independence cause and held prominent positions in the MPLA and Angolan state until his death in 1995 in London.
