Luanda - The representative of UNICEF in Angola, Koen Vanormelingen, said Monday, in Luanda, that despite the relatively low prevalence of HIV/AIDS in Angola (19 percent) it is a chronic disease that has a major impact on well-being of the population and
the country’s development due to the high cost of treatment.

 
Koen Vanormelingen, who spoke at the opening ceremony of the workshop to “review the strategic plan to combat HIV/AIDS and endemic diseases in the education sector in 2006”, said that apart from HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria are endemic diseases that constitute a serious health problem in Angola.

 
According to him, studies indicate that malaria is the leading cause of mortality in the country and responsible for 28 percent of infant mortality. This disease reduces the productivity of young people and adults and affects school performance of children.

 
Tuberculosis, on the other hand, continues to spread into the country, considerably increasing the number of cases, mostly associated to HIV/AIDS.

 
According to the official, controlling the spread of these endemic diseases cannot be the only responsibility of the Ministry of Health (MINSA). The education sector can play a catalytic role in the prevention and diagnosis of these diseases.