The Portuguese team has already held several meetings in the country, being working in close articulation with the Ministry of Health of Angola
Five operations of the National Institute of Medical Emergency (INEM) are in Angola to support the authorities of this country to combat the outbreak of cholera, which has already caused 500 dead and 13,818 cases, the Portuguese entity announced Monday.
The outbreak of Cholera, which erupted in January, reaches 17 of the 21 provinces of Angola.
The sending of INEM’s emergency medical team (EMT) was made in response to an international appeal made on April 9 by the World Health Organization (WHO), INEM explains in a statement.
At the same time, WHO has asked the Portuguese team “the projection of an EMT coordination team (EMTCC), to, under the aegis of WHO, and under representation of Portugal, reinforce the response of Angolan authorities in the management of this sanitary crisis”.
EMT sent by INEM arrived in Angola last Thursday, April 17, and includes a team of three professionals in EMT coordination, water purification and sanitation, and support for coordination, which today joined another doctor and a nurse.
The Portuguese team has already held several meetings in the country, being working in close articulation with the Ministry of Health of Angola, the WHO Office, with the Camões Institute and other organizations.
“These sessions aim to provide support in the assessment of needs, define priorities and plan concrete actions for the control of the outbreak,” he details in the statement.
The Portuguese team will be concentrated in Benguela, the most critical region, accompanied by Angola Health Minister Silvia Lutucuta.
“It is expected that the mission is approximately two to three weeks long, with the main objective to reinforce the government’s ability to respond in the fight against the outbreak of cholera,” he concludes.
According to the latest data released by the Ministry of Health of Angola, the country recorded 500 dead and 13,818 cases of anger since the start of the outbreak in January.
