Maternal and Child Health Programme in Angola

Angola, 1997-2000, Sida

Objective

The overall and long term objective of the programme was to improve child health in Luanda Province, and reduce institutional infant mortality related to malaria, respiratory tract infections, malnutrition and meningitis.

Background

In 1997 Sida decided to support the newly established Child Health Programme in Luanda. The justification for the programme was poor utilisation of preventive services, and the over-crowded curative clinics, especially the only existing paediatric hospital. Primary care was not well functioning on a primary level, a secondary level of care within municipal hospitals was lacking. Hence no referral system was in place to insure adequate care at the appropriate level.

Services Provided

• Supporting the Child Health Programme in the procurement process of material and medicines;
• Recruiting short term advisers to improve the diagnose and treatment of the most common childhood diseases;
• Training doctors from paediatric hospitals in taking care of newborn babies with breathing difficulties;
• Training laboratory staff in basic laboratory skills.