Luanda: The Vice-President of the Republic, Esperan§a da Costa, met on Wednesday with the leader of the African Chapter of the World Aquaculture Society (WAS-AC), Francisca Delgado, to discuss strategies for the development of aquaculture in Angola. Francisca Delgado emphasized Angola's potential to expand aquaculture and noted the significant involvement of women in various economic and social sectors.
According to Angola Press News Agency, Delgado highlighted that aquaculture can provide many women with a sustainable source of income and entrepreneurship, thereby improving the living conditions of families. She explained that WAS-AC aims to support African countries in promoting sustainable aquaculture through the transfer of technical knowledge, the use of environmentally responsible technologies, and the creation of financing opportunities. "We will use aquaculture technologies that respect the environment and ecosystems," she stated.
Delgado also announced the upcoming African Aquaculture Conference, scheduled for December in Tanzania, as part of a global meeting of the organization. This event will gather representatives from the African Chapter to share technical and scientific experiences. She mentioned that the conference would showcase research findings, innovative aquaculture technologies, and connect producers and governments with potential financiers.
Delgado recalled that the United Nations has designated 2026 as the 'Year of Women in Aquaculture,' encouraging greater female participation in the sector. She advocated for women to receive adequate technical training to develop sustainable projects, ensuring that organization specialists are available to provide technical support to countries. She added that financing opportunities would be a key topic of discussion at the Tanzania conference.
In a related development, Esperan§a da Costa also met with Maria de Natividade, Secretary-General of the African Mathematical Union, to discuss strategies for strengthening education and research in mathematics. Maria de Natividade stressed the importance of enhancing the training of professionals, especially at the doctoral level, as the country currently has a limited number of specialists in this field.
She explained that the African Mathematical Union promotes education, scientific research, and the applications of mathematics across the continent and called for the support of member states to implement its programs. She encouraged youth and educators to pursue mathematics education, highlighting the need to increase the number of Angolan PhDs in the specialty.
Additionally, the Vice-President's agenda included a meeting with Mois©s Cardoso, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Movement for Albinos of Angola. During the meeting, Cardoso advocated for sunscreen to be classified as an essential medication in Angola, rather than a mere cosmetic product. He noted that several countries have adopted this classification in line with World Health Organization recommendations, as sunscreen is crucial for preventing skin cancer in people with albinism.
Cardoso also drew attention to the challenges faced by people with albinism in accessing education and the job market. He noted that many children abandon school due to visual difficulties that impede reading from the board, a situation exacerbated by the lack of adequate classroom conditions. He added that discrimination, bullying, and school dropout rates contribute to low employment levels among this population, advocating for public policies that promote social inclusion and equal opportunities.
