The introduction of a new HIV project in Benguela and Cuanza Sul to stakeholders continues apace. All NGOs in the consortium are now in place and training is in progress, as it the recruitment process for Community Health Agents. More than 2,000 candidates sent applications for the posts of CHAs and supervisors, a selection of whom were invited to sit written tests. 

TCE Malanje set up stalls at Calandula Municipal Fair to pass on messages about disease prevention, explain about malaria and the importance of using insecticide treated nets, encourage improvements in sanitation, talk about HIV testing and treatment and ensure girls and women had accurate information about STDs and menstrual health.

ADPP’s four teams of counsellors on the M2M project in Cunene m2m received supervision visits from Luanda, and met to refined strategies, while continuing index case testing and working to get data into DHIS2. 

While the Covid-19 pandemic continues to occupy the headlines, endemic diseases such as malaria remain an ever-present threat to the health, education and livelihoods of (hundreds of) thousands of people, young and old.

ADPP's TCE project in Uíge, Zaire, Malanje and Cuanza Norte is no less tenacious, raising awareness about disease prevention, giving talks about malaria and demonstrations on the use of mosquito nets, going from house to house to remind people about basic health measures or visiting shops and markets to mobilise against Covid-19. 

With the start of the new academic year in September, the school component of the TCE project was once again in full swing. Refresher training for teachers and sports leaders brought them up to date with the latest news on endemic diseases as well as providing inspiration for class lessons and sports tournaments. Malaria Control Patrols were renewed, as the older pupils left and new pupils joined, and Malaria Committees were also established. School Health Agents helped prepare the schools by putting up posters on Covid-19 as well as giving talks about the use of facemasks and hand washing. Regular lessons on malaria, HIV including sexual and reproductive health, TB and Covid-19, got underway for pupils at all participating schools in the four provinces, with extra training sessions for pupils in the Malaria Control Patrols to prepare them for awareness-raising activities.

Municipal administrations, hospitals, clinics, Community and School Health Agents, schools, headmasters, teachers, parents and pupils were all working hard this month to mobilise individuals, households and communities to maintain the momentum already achieved in the fight to control disease.

TCE Uige: Refresher training for teachers in Maquela do Zombo on prevention measures against malaria, HIV/AIDS, TB, and sexual & reproductive health

TCE UIGE: together with the Municipal Inspector of Education in Maquela do Zombo

TCE Cuanza Norte School Health Agent put up Covid-19 posters at schools in preparation for the start of the school year

TCE Zaire School Health Agent and participating teacher giving lessons on malaria and HIV at schools 8 and 98

TCE Zaire: A school health agent giving a talk about the correct use of masks and handwashing to prevent Covid-19

Capacity building session on sexual and reproductive health for Community Health Agents, in advance of mobilisation in the community, TCE Malanje

TCE Zaire: ADECOS took part in a community meeting with the department of health and other NGOs on malaria prevention.

TCE Cuanza Norte in action at the start of the school year

Mobilisation on Covid-19 prevention at TCE Zaire continued house-to-house and in the community

TCE Zaire gave a talk about malaria prevention at AIA church, during which they explained about the correct use of mosquito nets. ADECOS were present for malaria testing.

Tce Uíge refresher training for teachers in Beu Commune, with the presence of the Municipal Education Director, Beu Communal Coordinator, the Director of the Communal Hospital, the Communal Police Chief and Beu Communal Administrator

The month’s biggest news in ADPP’s health sector was the launch of the HIV/AIDS and TB project in Cuanza Sul and Benguela provinces. As subrecipient to the Global Fund / UNDP, ADPP is managing the community interventions in the two provinces.  After a thorough tender process, in which more than 50 NGOs applied for funding, the final consortium has been put together, consisting of ADPP, ASCAM, OIC, Cruz Vermelha, CAZ and Cruz Azul. During the month of August, focus was on introducing the project to stakeholders throughout the two provinces.   

The Community Control of Malaria teams in four provinces have been preparing for the start of the school year by training teachers on malaria, HIV/TB and Covid-19. Teachers give lessons to their classes and organise Malaria Control Patrols to carry out community activities. During the training, the most active teachers from the previous school year received certificates and prizes. In August, 90 teachers were trained in Calandula and 60 in Cacuso, both Malanje province. 100 teachers from Cazengo & Lucala in Cuanza Norte were trained, and 150 in Soyo, Zaire.  Small group lessons for patrol members continued through the holidays, for example, in Cuanza Norte, talks were given about malaria and Covid-19. 

Formação sobre a malária e outras questões de saúde para 60 professores em Cacuso.

Actividade com uma das patrulhas no projecto Controlo Comunitário de Malària.

A equipa da ADPP no Cunene continua a realizar reuniões semanais no Zoom com parceiros m2m no projecto para fornecer testes de casos-índice a parceiros de mulheres seropositivas e apoiá-los no seguimento do tratamento.

Na província de Cabinda, a equipa de Segurança Rodoviária iniciou a criação de passadeiras com o intuito de melhorar a segurança dos peões e reduzir a sinistralidade. As primeiras estradas foram pintadas em Lândana e as equipas seguirão para outras aldeias ao longo da estrada.

Foto de grupo depois de apresentacão de arranque das actividades de projecto para o Director Provincial de Saúde em Cuanza Sul.

Apresentacao de arrangqu do projecto no Administrator Municipal no area Social, Directora Municipal de Saude em Cuanza Sul.

Encontro com Directora Muncipal de Saude no seu escritorio.

Assim esta a ser a jornada no Porto Amboim, encontro com a ponto focal do VIH, Psicóloga e a responsável de farmácia para mapeamento das U.S e a prevalência no Município.

Encontro com o chefe de secção da saúde publica para apresentação do arranque das actividades no Município!

Encontro com o Administrador adjunto para area economica / financeira e a Ponto focal do VIH no Municipio para arranque das actividades no Município.

Director geral do Hospital Municipal e a responsavel de estatistica hospitalar para mapeamento das U.S e a prevalencia de VIH no Municipio do Porto Ambuim

Encontro de apresentação de arranque das actividades de projecto com vice Sr administrador do municipal de Conda. Bem recebido no município.

Foto de familia com Sr vice administrator de Conda depois de apresentação de arranqe das actividades de projecto

Encontro sobre arrange das actividades de projecto com Sr Director de repaticso de Saude de Conda

Foto de familia com Sr Director de Saude Municipa de Conda

Lack of information and menstrual hygiene products, limited access to toilets or latrines, and taboos related to menstruation are all barriers to girls attending school- and ultimately these are also barriers to the empowerment of girls and women in all sectors of society.

The Government of Angola and UNFPA Angola began implementing a Pilot Project in menstrual health management in partnership with BeGirl Inc, and ADPP Angola is bringing years of experience in education and in female empowerment to the project. A coalition of organisations are working to address and identify barriers related to menstural health and associated gender inequalities. In addition to contributing to better health, improving the knowledge of adolescent boys and girls about the menstrual cycle and family planning has the potential to promote positive changes in attitudes among a highly significant part of the population, removing stigma and taboo and engendering greater equality between males and females.

ADPP Angola staff were among the 27 participants from government offices and NGOs/CSOs who attended virtual training of trainers in November 2020. ADPP has since run workshops on menstrual health, at its polytechnics Ramiro and Zango, and teacher teacher training schools in Luanda, Huambo and Lunda Sul. Students learn about the menstrual cycle and how to use the PeriodPanty and SmartCycle period-tracking bracelet. The students completed questionnaires that provided baseline information on knowledge and practices, and were all enthusiastic about the opportunity to participate. 

Boys and girls participated in workshops on menstrual health management at a number of ADPP schools.

Students learned about the menstrual cycle, menstrual hygiene products and family planning.

Students learned about "PeriodPanty" underwear for use during menstruation and SmartCycle period-tracking bracelets.

The students complete questionnaires that provided baseline information on knowledge and practices related to menstrual health management.

Community Project on HIV/AIDS and TUBERCULOSIS

ADPP is subrecipient of the HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis Community Component in the implementation of the NFM3 Global Fund grant. With this public tender for the presentation of expressions of interest, it is intended to select National Non-Governmental Organizations with technical and operational capacity to implement activities on the ground in the provinces of Benguela and Cuanza Sul in the period from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2024 .

Click for more information (in Portuguese): Anúncio de Concurso Publico para Manifestação de Interesse