Why were we there?
- Armed conflict
- Endemic/Epidemic disease
- Social violence/Healthcare exclusion
Our Work
MSF first started working in Angola in 1983 to respond to conflict-related medical emergencies and expanded its activities both geographically and medically as needs were identified. Broad support was provided for basic healthcare including medical attention for people with tuberculosis (TB), HIV/AIDS and Human African Trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness).
MSF regularly responded to outbreaks of diseases such as meningitis, measles, cholera, haemorrhagic fever and other health problems including nutritional crises. MSF also supported hospitals and health centres.
Five years have passed since the signing of a peace agreement that ended 27 years of civil war in Angola. As the state continues to rehabilitate the healthcare system and develops a proper healthcare infrastructure, MSF in 2006 and 2007 engaged in a gradual process of closing and handing over its activities to government and local and international development NGOs.
Prior to the final project closures, MSF was particularly active in responding to cholera outbreaks, treating more than 32,000 people. Rapid urbanisation, inadequate water and sanitation systems and a disorganised public health system combined with heavy rains accelerated the country's worst ever recorded outbreak of cholera in February 2006.
In the city of Malanje, MSF had run a project for HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria since 2003. In 2006, 9,766 people were tested for HIV and 181 were enrolled in a treatment programme. Almost 20,000 people were treated for malaria during 2006. Health authorities took over this project in May of 2007. Between January 2006 and April 2007, MSF assisted an average of 270 pregnant women monthly in the Xa-Muteba clinic in Lunda Norte province. The project was transferred to the MoH in May 2007.
MSF worked in Angola from 1983 until 2007 and has completely withdrawn from Angola.
MSF has been active in displaced people camps, establishing health clinics, and carrying out mass vaccination campaigns. We support nutrition and paediatric services, and assist in the installation of latrines and finding solutions to accessing clean drinking water.
MSF’s support in Angola is broad; from basic healthcare to targeted clinical services for people with yellow fever, tuberculosis (TB), HIV/AIDS, and Human African Trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness).
Training local doctors
In addition to direct management of patients, MSF trains officials from the Ministry of Health and other organisations and donates medical supplies to provincial and municipal hospitals. At the request of the Angolan authorities, MSF has responded to cholera outbreaks and trained local medical staff.
A dedicated emergency team is ready to be deployed in the event of a health alert in the country, and MSF will continue to support the local authorities in providing healthcare services.