Speaking at a press conference, after having inaugurated the General Hospital of Cuanza-Sul Comandante Raul Diaz Argüelles, João Lourenço stated that the construction of a new oncology hospital in Luanda is underway, since the country does not currently have the financial resources to build three “or four distributed throughout the country”, despite the existence of a need for these services.
The Head of State does not give any time horizon in terms of completion, but justifies that the city that has about a third of Angola’s population, Luanda, is precisely where we should start to create the best conditions “for the fight against oncological diseases” .
The Head of the Executive Branch believes that, nowadays, the lack of infrastructure of this nature has constituted a sort of “handicap” at the moment. However, the President stresses that the country has taken important steps in terms of combating kidney failure, with the construction of several hemodialysis centers. “Spread throughout the country.
We have taken an important step in terms of combating cardiopulmonary diseases, but in terms of oncology, we are lagging behind. Therefore, the first major investment, whose infrastructure has begun to be built, is also in the city of Luanda”, he assures.
Hospitals at three levels
The President of the Republic warns, from another angle of his approach, that, to promote public health in Angola, the country needs to invest beyond the construction of primary, secondary and tertiary level infrastructures.
João Lourenço argues, in this regard, that the country should provide more training to health professionals. “And this is an action that we are taking in parallel with our infrastructure construction projects.
At the same time as we are building, we are investing seriously in the training and specialization of our health professionals, not only with a view to having the number corresponding to the investment we are making in infrastructure, but above all to have the quality of professionals who will be able to get the best possible performance from the cutting-edge equipment that we are installing, especially at tertiary level”, he highlights.
He says that it is not enough to just buy equipment, it is necessary to get the best possible performance from the equipment that is being installed.
“Otherwise, the investment that is being made would not have been worth it”, he considers, while also defending the need to include the largest possible number of professionals in the health sector in the national system, without, however, losing sight of the basic sanitation component.
“Therefore, if our cities, in terms of basic sanitation, are in good condition, there is no accumulation of rubbish, accumulation of water, there are no breeding grounds for mosquitoes and other animals that are harmful to human health, we will certainly be contributing to the well-being of Angolans, in terms of prevention”, stresses the President of the Republic.
Parallel hearings
On Monday, the President of the Republic received in audience José Angel, the Cuban Minister of Health, with whom he discussed several issues of common interest between the two States. In another audience, he spoke with the founder and owner of the Mitrelli Group, Haim Taribe.
Today is reserved for visits to the Sumbe Integrated Infrastructure works and a fair on the capital city’s waterfront. Also today, the President will chair the meeting of the Provincial Government of Cuanza-Sul. Regarding the tribute to the general, the President says that it was necessary due to the citizen’s contribution in the battle of Ebo in confronting the “enemy”, in these circumstances the South African army.
BY: Constantino Eduardo, sent to Sumbe
