ANGOLA DEFENDS STRENGTHENING OF EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SURVEILLANCE IN AFRICA

Luanda - The Angolan Minister of Health, Silvia Lutucuta, Saturday called for the reinforcement of epidemiological surveillance measures in Africa, in order to avoid the outbreak of Polio caused by type 2 vaccine.

Silvia Lutucuta, who was speaking at the 74th World Health Assembly, said that despite the eradication of Polio in the African region by 2020, it is important to ensure vaccination and compliance with epidemiological surveillance measures to avoid outbreaks of Wild Polio and vaccine-derived Polio.

"We continue to be assertive and now more than ever in relation to biosafety in laboratories, sharing genetic material data for research, complying with the assumptions that are embodied in the Negoya protocol of 2005," she said.

Silvia Lutucuta defended the position of the African groups in relation to the fundamental themes of biosafety in laboratories, the Negoya protocol and polio.

During the event, which began on 24 May, issues relating to public health, case management, medicines for other infectious diseases and resistance to antibiotics were addressed.

The delegates, who pointed to Covid-19 as a challenge, emphasised the need to increase access to vaccines, especially for low-income countries.