At a glance
CDC works with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and other partners to build effective public health collaboration and partnerships, which strengthen the country's core public health capabilities: data and surveillance, laboratory capacity, workforce and institutions, prevention and response, innovation and research, and policy, communications, and diplomacy.
Overview
CDC established an office in Angola in 2002. CDC Angola works closely with the Government of Angola and partner organizations to detect, prevent and control infectious disease outbreaks and build and strengthen the country's core public health capabilities. These include data and surveillance, laboratory capacity, workforce and institutions, prevention and response, innovation and research, and policy, communications, and diplomacy. CDC's work aims to protect the health of our nations and public health around the world.
Global health security
CDC Angola supports the MOH with outbreak investigations and disease surveillance. CDC also supports laboratory system strengthening and diagnostics for diseases such as COVID-19, HIV, polio, and malaria. CDC works closely with the National AIDS Program and the MOH to support the HIV response and public health workforce development.
Laboratory systems strengthening
CDC assists the Angolan National AIDS Institute (INLS) to enhance the integrated laboratory network, which is a core component of the overall healthcare system. This support includes:
- National assessment of the tiered public health laboratory system
- Development of a national strategic plan to guide provision of laboratory services
- Implementation of laboratory quality systems through the Strengthening Laboratory Management Towards Accreditation program
- Implementation of a laboratory information system for viral load results management
Workforce development
CDC helps implement the Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP). FETP residents support the MOH by:
- Conducting epidemiologic surveys and investigations.
- Evaluating surveillance systems.
- Implementing disease control and prevention measures.
- Reporting findings to decision- and policy-makers.
- Assessing HIV data collection, reporting systems and treatment adherence rates.
- Supporting partner notification services in model clinics supported by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
Key achievements
Previous collaborative efforts to strengthen laboratory and disease surveillance systems laid a foundation for CDC's COVID-19 response:
- Trained over 100 technicians in 5 provinces.
- Provided personal protective equipment (PPE) and laboratory equipment for molecular surveillance.
- Supported training for over 1,000 healthcare workers in 83 health facilities on COVID-19 testing and the use of PPE.
HIV and TB
As a key implementer of the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), CDC plays an essential role in the fight against HIV and TB. With unmatched scientific and technical knowledge and long-standing relationships with ministries of health, CDC is uniquely positioned to advance HIV, TB, and other global health security activities that keep Americans safe at home and abroad.
Through PEPFAR, CDC provides critical support to Angola's public health infrastructure, improving the country's ability to prevent, detect, and respond to HIV, TB, and other infectious diseases and minimizing their risk from entering the U.S.
Malaria
CDC has collaborated with partners to support implementation of malaria prevention and control activities in Angola. CDC-supported activities have included providing technical input in:
- Distribution of long-lasting insecticide treated mosquito nets.
- Conducting mosquito surveillance.
- Preventing malaria in pregnancy.
- Training healthcare workers in diagnostics, prevention, and case management.
- Directing treatments, tests, and training based on malaria incidence across facility, municipality, and provincial levels.
Key achievements
- CDC has trained over 120 community health workers in malaria case management and facilitation.
- Distributed over 945,000 antimalarial treatment courses and performed over 1.6 million malaria blood tests.
- Angola completed a Therapeutic Efficacy Survey to look for possible markers of anti-malarial resistance in 3 provinces.
