Luanda – The Angolan Health minister, José Van-Dúnem, Monday in Luanda, swore in the new directors for “Josina Machel” and “Américo Boavida” hospitals, under a programme intended to boost the two institution’s functioning and secure better services to the population.

José Van-Dúnem swore in Alberto Zuzi Paca Massoco as director general of  “Josina Machel” and Leonardo Inocêncio as clinic director, while Lucrécia Paim maternity hospital received Manuela Sotto Mayor and Ema Rodrigues as clinic and nursing directors, respectively.

Constantina Furtado Machado has been sworn in as director general of “Américo Boavida” (HAB) hospital, whereas Maria Antunes is responding for the clinic section. António Matemba was invested as director for nursing and Mário Silva Cardoso as administrative director of the institution. 

The minister swore in Miguel dos Santos Oliveira as director for the Health Ministry’s general inspection.

On the occasion, the minister spoke of the need for a new momentum in the management of the institutions, if the goals set are to be achieved.

"We will not attain the goals, unless we adopt a different attitude, as these are ambitious goals and we are suffering from external negative effects like the lack of material resources, environmental evils, rains, nutritional problems, poor sanitation and poor education, which are factors that compel us into speedy responses to the problems,” the minister said.

He thus appealed to the newly sworn in officials to do their best, on the basis of a correct management of public property.

In order to improve the health services, the minister mentioned two main pillars. They are primary attention to preventable diseases, through vaccination, mentioning malaria, diarrhoea and malnutrition that still affect the country’s sanitary standards.

The second pillar, according to José Van-Dunem, is related to the hospitals’ entrance: first aid care, external consultation and nursing services which he said should take a special attention.