The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Mohamed Yakub Janabi, are paying an official visit to Angola from November 24 to 25, 2025, as part of their participation in the 7th African Union-European Union Summit. The mission provided an opportunity to deepen dialogue with the Government of Angola and closely monitor progress in strengthening the national health system, with a focus on primary care, digitalization, and emergency preparedness.
During the visit, the WHO Director-General met with the Minister of Health, Dr. Sílvia Lutucuta, and members of the Ministry of Health’s Board of Directors to discuss strategic priorities, including sustainable financing, human resource capacity building, expansion of the primary care network, and modernization of health information systems. The Minister of Health emphasized that “Angola remains committed to transformation, and we believe that with our partners, our people, and our determination, we will continue to contribute to a health system that serves all, supports all, and leaves no one behind.”
As part of this cooperation, the WHO delegation officially handed over to the Ministry of Health an ambulance to strengthen primary care, as well as 30 computers funded by the European Union, which will strengthen the National Health Information System. These resources represent concrete support for ongoing efforts to modernize infrastructure, improve epidemiological surveillance, and increase the operational capacity of health facilities.
The visit also included field visits, notably to the General Army Hospital Complex (Pedalé), where the delegation observed specialized services and response capabilities, highlighting the strategic role of these referral units in providing essential care and building a resilient hospital system prepared for future challenges.
At the Honga Reference Health Center in Patriota, the delegation witnessed the administration of the recently introduced HPV vaccine and learned about the services provided to the community, including vaccination, screening, consultations, and clinical follow-up.
This official visit reinforced the strategic partnership between WHO and the Government of Angola, highlighting concrete results achieved in the field of technical cooperation. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus reaffirmed that “based on Angola’s priorities, WHO will continue to provide support to the country. The progress observed, including the reduction in mortality rates, is a result of a focus on primary healthcare. We will continue to strengthen these actions, as investing in primary care is essential to improving health indicators and ensuring that more people have access to quality essential services.”
WHO reaffirms its commitment to supporting Angola in building a more inclusive, robust, and people-centered health system, consolidating gains and strengthening resilience in the face of present and future challenges.