Luanda - More than 200 community agents from civil society organisations were trained last month by World Vision Angola (WV), with the aim to raise awareness and provide ongoing support to pregnant women, children and families in the communities.
According to the note to which ANGOP had access on Thursday, the training will be held in the scope of the Maternal and Child Health Programme that is implementing the “More and Better Health Maternal and Child Project in Luanda”, which is expected to benefit 21,600 families.
It states that the provision is to reach up to more than 670,000 citizens in the locations which the project will be implemented, as well as to identify and select about 84,000 pregnant women, 180 health professionals and 240 community agents who live in the municipalities of Cacuaco, Cazenga, Talatona and Viana.
The document states that the work plan aims to improve the quality of maternal and child health, both at the hospital units and in the communities in order to provide more access to health services through training and refresher programmes for health professionals and community agents.
It is also planned to establish links with health services to increase pregnant women's adherence to antenatal appointments, intermittent preventive treatment (IPT) and the correct use of mosquito nets.
On the other hand, the organisers explain that the integration of WV projects in Luanda Province also aims to disseminate information on child protection and the safeguarding of adults in vulnerable situations, in order to reach more than 120,000 children under the age of 5 and 80,000 children and adolescents between the ages of 6 and 18 by the end of the project.
The non-governmental organisation aims to strengthen the capacities of local partners working with civil society, among them the Youth Association for Community Support (AJACOM), Childcare NGO, Kudisanza Association, United Against Hunger Association (UCF) and the Youth Association for the Support of Young People in Need (Jucarente), through their networks of volunteers and community agents, carrying out awareness-raising activities with families and communities.
This approach aims to create synergy between the initiatives, maximising impact and promoting the effective dissemination of crucial information on maternal and child health in Luanda Province.
The Maternal and Child Health Programme which is implementing the “More and Better Health Maternal and Child Project in Luanda”, is financed by the Block 18 Association, headed by Azule Energy Angola. The project aims to help reduce the maternal and child mortality rate in the Angolan capital.
World Vision has been operational in Angola since 1989 and fully registered in Angola as a Non-governmental Organization bringing more than 25 years of technical leadership in the child wellbeing sphere. It develops global strategies for the sustainable development of the most vulnerable areas.
HM/ART / MRA/jmc
