WHO and UNHCR collaborate to Give a rob to Health Services for Refugees in Lunda Norte

In a joint mission with the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), the World Health Organization (WHO) conducted a crucial analysis of well being products and services in refugee settlement in Lunda Norte province, Angola, from 30 September to 2 October. This mission aimed to analysis the standard and collaboration of well being products and services provided on the Lôvua Refugee Settlement, a dwelling to thousands of refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) since 2017. 

The Lôvua settlement changed into as soon as established following the 2017 emergency, the set approximately 35,000 Congolese refugees fled violence in the Kasai dwelling of the DRC, seeking security in Angola. Today, spherical 9,000 of those refugees remain in the province, with 6,000 residing in the Lôvua settlement.

The WHO team collaborated intently with key partners, including UNHCR’s Head of Administrative heart in Lunda Norte, Ms. Jasmine Fernanda Rodríguez and the Evangelical Church of Brothers in Angola (IEIA), UNHCR’s well being partner in the dwelling. They centered on understanding the products and services readily obtainable to both refugees and the host inhabitants, in particular on the Lôvua clinic, which offers total Main Health Care products and services comparable to vaccinations, maternal and baby well being care, medication of endemic diseases including referral to within sight hospitals, and psychosocial make stronger. Serving approximately 250 sufferers weekly, of which 30% are from the host community, the clinic plays a crucial role despite ongoing funding and resource challenges. 

©WHO/Omotola Akindipe

Furthermore, the team met with the Vice Administrator of Lôvua Municipality, Mr. Maliangue Alberto, to talk about strengthening partnerships and well being contrivance construction in the dwelling. WHO furthermore visited the Lôvua well being facility and the Municipal well being facility, for the time being undergoing rehabilitation, showcasing ongoing efforts to make stronger well being infrastructure.

A key highlight of the mission changed into as soon as the consult with to the Health Technical Institute of Lunda Norte, the set discussions with the faculty’s director opened alternatives for future collaboration in well being promotion and capability building. The institute’s efforts to join college students with assorted tertiary institutions in Angola comparable to Rainha Njinga A Mbande in Malanje, with which WHO signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 11 September 2024, and expand its attain to susceptible areas have been praised as crucial steps toward improving healthcare education.

 ©WHO/Omotola Akindipe

This mission underscores WHO’s commitment to ensuring that refugees and native communities in Lunda Norte have win admission to to quality healthcare. In partnership with UNHCR and native organizations, WHO remains devoted to supporting well being products and services that go nobody behind, as segment of broader efforts toward achieving In vogue Health Protection in Angola.

With a focus on sustainability and resilience, WHO and its partners continue to work toward supporting the Authorities of Angola in building a stronger healthcare contrivance for all, prioritizing those in essentially the most susceptible eventualities.