24 April 2008
Luanda — A memorandum of understanding in the area of basic environmental sanitation was signed Wednesday, in Luanda's Talatona Conventions Centre, in Luanda, where the fourth conference of environment ministers of CPLP is taking place, between the Angolan Ministry of Urbanisation and Environment (Minua) and the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef).
The convention, signed by the incumbent minister of Minua, Diekumpuna Sita José, and the representative of Unicef in Angola, Angela Kearney, comes as a result of recommendations from the national workshop of environmental sanitation, held last October in Luanda.
The terms of the memorandum outline the creation, by the Ministry of Urbanisation and Environment, of a National Technical Unit for Environmental Sanitation (UTNSA) that will have as responsibilities to plan periodical studies for assessing the situation in this sector, defining pertinent measures and secure that actions in this field may be taken as priorities in our public policies.
UTNSA will also work with the Ministries of Energy and Water, Health, Territorial Administration, Education, and NGOs in order to develop and define national objectives for environment sanitation, in short and long terms.
Analysing opportunities of the sector's development and constraints, counselling Minua on measures of good policies and strategies for a sustainable services of environment sanitation involving public and private partners and also tasks entrusted by the organ, will also be tasks for that organ.
Therefore, Unicef is committed to providing technical assistance to UTNSA, so as to implement two different primary actions, like elaborating plans of national investment for environmental and hygiene sanitation.
It is also going to be developed integrated strategies of social marketing for environmental sanitation and hygiene promotion in partnership with local NGOs and support to the exchange of learning experiences.
For Angela Kearney, this convention constitutes a unique opportunity to work in partnership with the government to provide better living standard for Angolan children, as many of them have been dying due to the lack of sanitation.
Minister Sita José showed total availability by the government to materialise the project and said that it is urgent to upgrade technicians in management in this field, and it will improve the quality of people's life.
The meeting of the incumbent environment ministers of the Portuguese Speaking Countries Community (CPLP) is expected to end this Thursday.
Angola will sign tonight with Portugal another memorandum for the implementation of the United Nations Framework Convention on climate changes and Kyoto protocol.
CPLP comprises Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tome and Principe and East Timor.
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