President congratulates African woman

The President of the Republic of Angola, João Lourenço, Friday congratulated the African women for their day marked today, stressing their action in education, support of families and in all dimensions of the fight for the dignity of African societies.

In a message on July 31 (African Women's Day), President João Lourenço said that the date "finds Africa plunged into a difficult struggle against the impetuous advance of Covid-19".

In this scenario, the message continues, the role and contribution of women, both in the front line of health care and within the family, are highlighted.

He stresses that the "fearless" African woman is once again put to the test "in a context where poverty tends to worsen due to the direct and indirect implications of the pandemic that plagues the planet".

Among the implications of the pandemic he pointed out "the abrupt increase in unemployment numbers among their peers, when they are not themselves affected by the instability of employment opportunities".

Finally, João Lourenço salutes women throughout Africa and in particular Angolan women, and reaffirms his confidence in their ability to deal with adversity.

Covid-19: Angola with 79 new positive cases and 35 recoveries

Seventy-nine new cases, one death and thirty five recoveries is the balance reported by the health authorities in the last 24 hours in the country.

The data released by the Secretary of State for Public Health, Franco Mufinda, in the usual update session, the newly infected are residents of the Province of Luanda, aged between three months and seventy four years.

Among the new cases are, according to Franco Mufinda, 28 women.

With the new data, the country has 1,078 positive cases, with 301 recovered, 48 deaths and 729 active (22 seriously  ill patients, 5 in critical condition and one in need of haemodialysis).

First Media professional portfolios ready within 15 days in Angola

Journalists will start receiving the first professional portfolios within fifteen days.

chairperson of Journalists Professional Licence and Ethics Committee (CCE), Luísa Rogério.

Universal Church denies charges in Angola

The board of the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (UCKG) in Angola considered the accusations made by Angolan pastors and bishops to be false.

DETAIL OF THE TEMPLE OF THE UNIVERSAL CHURCH OF KINGDOM OF CHURCH IN LUANDA

The Parliament of Angola approves implementation of revised 2020 State Budget

The National Assembly (AN) approved this Tuesday the revised General State Budget (OGE 2020), with expenditure in the education and health sectors registering an increase in its share.

The revised OGE 2020, which foresees revenues of 13.5 billion kwanzas and expenses of equal value, was approved with 139 votes from MPLA and FNLA, 50 against from UNITA, six abstentions from CASA-CE and one from PRS.

The Minister of Finance, Vera Daves, indicated at the time that this is the possible budget given the country's current financial constraints.

In its explanation of vote, the MPLA said it welcomed the document to allow the Government to continue to implement programs that meet the wishes of Angolans, exemplifying the 1742 projects in progress, under the Integrated Plan of Intervention in Municipalities (PIIM).

According to MP Luísa Damião, this amending budget sends a strong and clear message that it is possible to transform the crisis into an opportunity to improve the quality of public spending.

She pointed out that the revised 2020 SGB pays special attention to the social sector, with particular emphasis on education and health, which has seen its share increase.

She also said that "there is a clear intention to protect families with lower incomes through the Kwenda programme", she said, criticising the opposition for never voting in favour of any OGE.

Covid-19: Angola records one more death and 18 new infections

 The health authorities have registered another death and 18 positive cases in the last 24 hours. Among the newly infected, according to Health Minister Sílvia Lutucuta, who was speaking at the usual press conference on the pandemic update, are six pregnant women.

The patients are between 14 and 69 years old.

With the newly infected, the country has an overall 950 positive cases, with 41 deaths, 242 recovered and 667 active (15 severe, 8 critical and two requiring hemodialysis).

Covid-19: Chinese arrive in Angola to set up laboratories

The Health minister, Sílvia Lutucuta, Monday here announced the arrival of a team of Chinese technicians belonging to BGI company, responsible for the supply and assembly of laboratories in six provinces Angola.

The laboratories will be installed in the provinces of Luanda, Uíge, Lunda Norte and Huambo.

Each laboratory has the capacity to process 1000 analyses daily.

With the acquisition of these laboratories, the country will have high capacity laboratory equipment for testing Covid-19 and other viral diseases, the minister said.

Angola has six Covid-19 testing laboratories installed at the National Institute of Research and Health (INIS), Hospital Central Military, Hospital Esperança, National Institute for the Fight against AIDS, Clínica Girassol and Clínica Luanda Medical Center, all concentrated in the capital of the country, with capacity to process 600 samples/day.