More biosafety in communities in southern Angola

A community that appreciates the help of the United Nations Population Fund UNFPA and looks to the future with hope “Now I work more safely”, says technician Adelaide Simão, who sees the arrival of the inputs offered by UNFPA with “great satisfaction”.

Adelaide is is a 19-year-old girl, who works as a nurse in the province of Cuando Cubango and experiences day-to-day difficulties imposed by the adverse conditions of the pandemic, aggravated by the drought in that region. The current Terra do Progresso, former “Terra do Fim do Mundo”, due to the unfavourable socioeconomic conditions that characterized it, Cuando Cubango is gradually reborn, despite the drought that causes harmful effects to productive activities, such as agriculture and livestock, with a strong negative impact on food security, access to education and health.

Despite the adversities experienced and endangering her own life, Adelaide is one of the heroines who, even without all biosafety conditions, did not fail to fulfill her role as a nurse at the Tchivonde Health Center. For those who think that only large cities suffer from COVID-19, the truth is that the pandemic has also reached the most isolated villages and neighborhoods in the country, such as Tchivonde, 30 km from Menongue, in Cuando Cubango, which UNFPA Angola supported with the donation of biosafety material. Realizing the needs of the group, UNFPA implemented a plan to help the population of that region, of which Adelaide is a beneficiary and is very happy with the support “This help is a breath of fresh air, we are very satisfied, because now we can respond significantly to some needs”.

The health center in Tchivonde was the first recipient of the UNFPA program in the region. Vicelino Calei is the director of this health unit and confirms that the “lack of materials” implies “a very high risk” for health technicians, who “make dressings without protection. The "breakdown, shortage and rupture of the stock of these drugs" is a real problem in the province, especially in times of pandemic, confirms the Director of the Cuando Cubango Health Office, João Chinga.

The biosafety material that UNFPA donated between April and December 2020 to the government of Cuando Cubango - face shields, gloves, masks, soap, alcohol-gel, among others - now reinforces prevention against coronavirus infection. A “charitable hand”, who “arrived at a good time, at the right time”, confirms João Chinga.

Health professionals in Tchivunda are grateful. “I now work more safely”, confirms the technician Adelaide Simão, who sees the arrival of inputs with“ great satisfaction ”.

Nurse Avelina Tchimuni also recognizes that “this material that came through UNFPA” will help the team to “work better with patients”.

This campaign in Cuando Cubango is part of a more comprehensive action by UNFPA Angola, which also benefits the provinces of Cunene, Huíla and Namibe. Coríntios Miguel, Director of the Provincial Health Office of Namibe, is of the opinion that “these gestures by UNFPA demonstrate this solidarity once again, and that we are all together in the fight against Covid-19”.

In addition to biosafety material, UNFPA also distributes reproductive health kits (materials for safe delivery, medication, HIV testing, among others) and so-called dignity kits (dressings, soaps, toothbrushes, toothpaste) in these provinces. toothpaste, cloths, flashlight, whistle, underwear, detergent, soap dishes, 20 liter bucket, comb and bag) that have already been delivered to more than 4 thousand young people.