Luanda — Health is currently seen as an essential component of the socio-economic development on the world's agenda.

This was said Tuesday in Luanda by the regional director of the World Health Organisation (WHO), Angolan Luís Sambo.

Presenting a report on the strategic guidelines for the WHO action in Africa over the last five years (2005-2009), Luis Gomes Sambo said this understanding gives a new momentum to the Health Organisation mandate in the leadership of the international effort to improve health and wellbeing of the populations, particularly of those of Africa.

He stated that over the last five years, significant efforts have been made in the African region, to fight the burden of diseases, poverty, high maternal and child death, including iemergency situations.

According to the official, six years for the deadline for the accomplishment of the millennium development goals, the challenge is to consolidate the achievements and speed up efforts, with efficiency and efficacy, with a view to better health results in the African region.

He stated that the world line of thinking and action within the communities will be guided by the renewed engagement in the approach to the primary health care and reinforcement of the local health systems, with a view to the noble and compensating goals of development outlined by the United Nations.