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Helping tackle malnutrition and malaria in Angola

Angola

After handing over our medical activities to the Angolan Ministry of Health, MSF left Angola in August 2023.

In 2016, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) renewed its operations in Angola after an absence of nine years, supporting local authorities after an outbreak of yellow fever affected the country.

We consolidated our operations in 2017 and 2018, supporting the health authorities to respond to emergencies - from the water, sanitation and healthcare needs of more than 30,000 people who had fled conflict in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo to tackling outbreaks of cholera and malaria.

In 2022,  we returned to Angola to improve paediatric care for malnutrition and malaria and prepare for the possible consequences of drought on people’s health.  

In August 2023, we closed our projects in Angola and handed over all medical activities to the Angolan Ministry of Health.

Our activities in 2023 in Angola

Data and information from the International Activity Report 2023.

MSF in Angola in 2023 Child malnutrition was the focus of Médecins Sans Frontières activities in Angola, a country that has repeatedly been affected by drought and poor harvests in recent years.
Angola IAR map 2023

Following warnings by UN agencies regarding the possible impact of these conditions on child health, we sent teams to Benguela province, in the west, in 2021; and Huíla province, in the south, in 2022.

While our assessments did not show an alarming rate of malnutrition, they did find high numbers of malaria cases. We also witnessed the many challenges that people in remote communities face in accessing healthcare.

In response, we continued to work in Benguela in close collaboration with the local health authorities and communities in 2023, with the aim of reducing child deaths and strengthening the existing healthcare system, particularly paediatric services. We improved the early detection of malnutrition in children in the community, increased access to health facilities by organising referrals, and provided much-needed treatment and medical equipment.

As well as supporting San Pedro hospital’s intensive malnutrition care unit and five outpatient malnutrition care facilities, we conducted health promotion activities, targeting children under five years old for screening, and their parents for health education, in the municipalities of Lobito and Catumbela. We handed over this project to the local authorities at the end of 2023.

Meanwhile, in Huíla province, between February and June, our teams supported the local health authorities to improve care for malnutrition and malaria among children under 15 years old in the municipalities of Cuvango and Chipindo.

We provided technical assistance to 17 general and specialist health facilities, trained medical staff, and established a network of community health workers to screen and detect malnutrition and malaria. We further increased access to healthcare by setting up a referral system and running mobile clinics in isolated areas. In addition, we upgraded the health facilities by carrying out rehabilitation works and improving water, sanitation and energy services.

In July, our teams finished our activities in Huíla and handed over the programme, along with medical and logistics materials, to the Ministry of Health.

 

in 2023
 
Angola

MSF vaccinates 3,700 children against measles in Luau

Project Update 29 Aug 2002
 
Angola

MSF surveys in Mavinga show depth of ongoing malnutrition crisis in pockets of Angola

Campaign 8 Aug 2002
 
Angola

Survival of thousands of Angolans constantly threatened

Project Update 5 Aug 2002
 
Angola

Measles vaccinations in second stage of MSF action in Angola

Project Update 26 Jul 2002
 
Angola

Mavinga Town - a face to the Angolan crisis

Project Update 12 Jul 2002
 
Angola

Over 280 tonnes of food shipped to Angola to maintain MSF feeding centres

Project Update 1 Jul 2002