Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Chiulo (Agenzia Fides) - On the 40th anniversary of the independence of Angola, Doctors with Africa Cuamm renews its commitment to the Country with the project for maternal and child health in the province of Cunene: "Better health care for the rural population of Cunene". Yesterday, Tuesday, December 8, 2015, the project in favor of the health of mothers and children was launched in Chiulo, in southern Angola.
This was reported to Agenzia Fides by Don Dante Carraro, Director of Cuamm, who is in the diocesan hospital in Chiulo for the occasion. The project started in March 2015, in collaboration with AFI - African International Foundation, and is aimed at a population that lives in an area of about 12 square kilometers, occupied mostly by vast rural areas, lack of roads and connections. In this context, access to health services is the priority intervention of Cuamm that, in two years, from 2015 to 2017, aims to help reduce maternal and infant mortality and the number of children who die under 5 years of age due to malnutrition or diseases which are so common elsewhere, or can be fatal (malaria, diarrhea, respiratory infections).
To achieve this, as explained by the project leader, CUAMM is working to ensure technical, clinical and surgical assistance, with the help of appropriate equipment; besides training and raising awareness among 200 healthcare professionals (doctors, nurses, midwives), engaged in the community and in hospital. During the day of the launch of the program what emerged was that the heavy drought in recent months is increasing the number of cases of severe acute malnutrition. To make things worse is the interruption at a national level of the supply of Ready to Use Foods, therapeutic food needed to treat malnutrition.
"In this project - said Don Dante during the event - the importance of working together is clear: CUAMM is not alone, but shares the commitment with the provincial government, the diocese of Ondjiva, donors. One does not obtain anything alone, together yes, as demonstrated by the achievements in these months of work". At the end of the morning, a show of community activists of the municipality of Ombadja was held that, according to tradition, use songs and performances as a tool to raise awareness regarding complex issues, such as malnutrition and domestic violence. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 09/12/2015)
