Kuando Kubango/ Angola

Medical emergency relief "at the end of the world" in South-East Angola

In Angola, a cease-fire agreement was finally concluded in April 2002 after 27 years of civil conflict. During the conflict, vast areas of the country were inaccessible to humanitarian aid. The extent of the populations catastrophic plight upon termination of the fighting is increasingly becoming clearer. Infrastructure has been destroyed, farming production is below subsistence level and cannot adequately provide for the populations needs, mines belts have been placed around villages and on roads, access to educational facilities and health care provision is non-existent. The precarious modes of transportation make access to a needy population more difficult and increase the costs for help. Food scarcity and neglect of basic needs over decades have particularly exacerbated the populations health condition. Excessively high infant and maternal mortality rates are the consequence of insufficient medical provision. Only 3 out of 4 new-born children will reach the age of 5. At the age of 5, 45% of these children will be suffering from chronic under nourishment and malnutrition. Life expectancy is at only 46 years of age.

Situation

Goals

Measures

Project Data

The province of Kuando Kubango in far South East Angola is also called the end of the world - "o fim da terra". Apart from the capital of the province, Menongue, only two main road arteries have remained open for humanitarian aid since the cease-fire. 90% of the province is only accessible to aircraft, via Nairobi or mostly inaccessible to international organisations. The province is only sparsely populated with 3 people per km. However, this count excludes demobilised soldiers with their families, internally displaced Angolans and ad-hoc voluntary relocation of refugees from neighbouring countries. For the provision of basic health care services, Kuando Kubango disposes of 3 doctors, 1 referral hospital and 30 public health care centres (predominantly health service points in an appalling state). Lack of staff and under qualified personnel are characteristic of these centres. As a result, especially women and children are disadvantaged by the lack of medical provision. The supply of medicine to public centres is sporadic at most. Treatable diseases such as malaria can become mortal in this province as the population is deprived of medical attention.

Reduction in disease and mortality rates in Kuando Kubango through the distribution of medicines and medical equipment made available to staffed health care centres
Medical emergency provision in remote rural regions through mobile health care agents
Reduction of high infant and maternal mortality rates through provision of obstetrical first aid kits for midwives

Provision of basic medical equipment for 2 health care centres, 10 health care stations and 36 mobile agents
Training of health care agents in diagnosis and treatment of diseases as well as in health care management
Information on HIV/AIDS and awareness-raising measures
Establishment of a centre for nutrition, food distribution to children

Project data
Duration:	2003 to April 2008
Financing:	Malteser International, ECHO (Humanitarian Aid Department of the European Commission)
Partner:	Caritas Menongue, Provincial Directorate for Health in Kuando Kubango

Kontakt	info@malteser-international.org