29 April 2009
Lobito — The ambassador of the European Union (EU) to Angola, the Portuguese João Gabriel Ferreira, recognised on Monday in Lobito city, central Benguela province, that programmes of combat and prevention of HIV/AIDS in the country are being well implemented since they count on the direct involvement of the central government, politicians, churches and other influential entities.
Speaking to ANGOP at the end of his visit to the project that the local NGO "OMUNGA" is carrying out in favour of street children and youths, João Ferreira said that the HIV/AIDS problem in Angola receives special attention from authorities, what to him, is facilitating the combat and prevention of this illness.
Without mentioning names, the EU diplomat said that some African countries in which their government official and civil society do little or nothing to combat the pandemic, still experience taboo and ignore this illness although they are registering a high number of deaths caused by the HIV virus.
To the ambassador, Angola is one of the African countries with the least HIV/AIDS positive rates, but needs to strengthen prevention measures since its borders are being opened bit by bit and people and goods are now entering the territory in their large numbers, something that according to him might increase the direct contact with people coming from regions with a high-rate.
On the other hand, the ambassador João Gabriel Ferreira said that the EU is preparing to invest around 214 million Euros in social projects in Angola, in the next four years.
From the projects to be funded by his institution in Angola, he stressed that those linked to landmines clearance and water and basic sanitation are expected to spend 20 million and 17 million Euros, respectively.
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