Angola is set to launch a national health communication network, marking a strategic shift toward stronger media collaboration in the face of persistent public health crises.
The initiative, led by the Ministry of Health in partnership with the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Children Fund and supported by the European Union, aims to enhance the country’s capacity to respond to health emergencies through coordinated, fact-based communication.
WHO said the network was one of the outcomes of a national training session scheduled for Wednesday at the Journalist Training Centre in Luanda.
“This meeting marks the beginning of a joint effort to create the Health Communication Network in Angola, a collaborative platform that aims to strengthen the link between the media, health authorities and international partners, promoting a more effective and coordinated response to health emergencies,” WHO said.
The training session is expected to bring together about 60 participants, including journalists, institutional communicators and representatives from public and private organisations.
The programme will feature practical workshops, debates and the exchange of tools to improve the quality and accountability of health reporting.
The announcement comes as Angola continues to battle a severe cholera outbreak that has affected over 8,500 people and claimed 329 lives since January 2025.
The epidemic, which has spread to 16 of the country’s 21 provinces, has disproportionately impacted children and young adults, with Luanda and Bengo provinces reporting the highest caseloads.
The outbreak has been exacerbated by the rainy season and poor sanitation, prompting urgent calls for improved public awareness and community engagement.
In recent years, Angola has also grappled with deadly outbreaks of malaria, yellow fever, and Zika virus.
In 2023 alone, malaria claimed more than 15,000 lives, while yellow fever infected over 4,000 people, resulting in a mortality rate of 8.3 percent.
These crises have underscored the need for timely, accurate information to guide public behaviour and reduce preventable deaths.
JN/APA