Luanda — The Angolan Head of State, José Eduardo dos Santos, has been invited to be the patron of the non governmental organisation "African Decade of Disabled Persons", as from the year 2009.

This information was given last Friday by the executive secretary of the mentioned NGO, Thomas Ongolo, during a press conference at which he made a balance of his visit to Angola that started on November 04.

This NGO works on improving conditions of disabled people, as well as on the ratification of the new International Human Rights Convention for Disabled People and the implementation of the convention on the creation of employment for disabled persons.

According to Thomas Ongolo, this invitation was made last Thursday during a meeting he held with the Angolan minister of Welfare and Social Reintegration, João Baptista Kussumua, and has to be reiterated by all of the southern Africa countries.

"During the audience we had with minister Kussumua, we were requested to instruct all southern Africa countries to make this invitation to the Angolan Head of State (...)" Thomas Ongolo revealed.

He also explained that his visit was aimed at making contacts with Angolan association that work for the benefit of disabled people and check the kind of work they have been doing in favour of this group of citizens.

"We held meetings with Ammiga, Anda, Cvia, Lardef, Faped and the Lwini Fund, and we are really impressed with the work being carried out by these associations (...)", he admitted.

Thomas Ongolo also revealed that the executive secretariat of his organisation intends to open an office in Angola, to be under the responsibility of the association ANDA, so as to facilitate the flow of information throughout the continent.

Last October 27-31 was held in Windhoek, Namibia, the first session of the African Union Conference of minister in charge of social development, a gathering that approved matters linked to the improvement of disabled people's living standards.