26 April 2009
Catete — The minister of Health, José Van-dúnem, said on Saturday in Catete district, northern Bengo province, that the World Malaria Day should serve for reflection in defining strategies to combat the disease that is the main cause of death in the country.
According to the official, who was speaking at the main event to celebrate the date in Angola, marked on April 25, the reflection should be based on efforts made by health authorities with view to reduce deaths in the communities through the use of proper means.
He considered the use of mosquito nets impregnated with insecticide, curbing stagnant water and individual responsibility in basic sanitation campaigns, as the main measures of combating the disease.
José Van-Dúnem said that although the health situation has improve, malaria continues taking lives in a small scale, since 13,765 deaths were registered in 2005, to the contrary of 9,000 in 2008, among pregnant women, adults and children under five years of age.
The minister informed that Angola's Health Research Centre, situated in Caxito city, provincial capital, will facilitate health staff in terms of researches to improve the strategy and method of controlling and combating the illness.
"We need to rethink about every strategy we have been implementing, in order to obtain positive results", the minister said.
The Health minister reminded that for the success of the fight against malaria, 1.5 million impregnated mosquito nets were distributed in 2008, and more than two million are expected for this year.
The event to commemorate the World Malaria Day was held at the Agostinho Neto Cultural Centre, in Catete.
Local government officials, representatives of the WHO, UNICEF, USAID, diplomatic corps, religious entities and traditional authorities attended the event.
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