Luanda – The Angolan Health Ministry (Minsa) on Tuesday here received a donation of USD 1.77 million from Chevron-Cabinda Gulf Oil Company, aimed at supporting the government in its fight against poliomyelitis.

The donation is aimed at financing the programme of strengthening the fight against the polio virus in children and adults, mainly in the provinces of Malanje, Cabinda, Lunda Norte, Lunda Sul, Zaire and Uíge and it will be implemented by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

According to the general director for policies, governmental and public relations of Chevron, Eunice de Carvalho, the programme will involve intensive and scheduled campaigns of immunisation throughout the northern and north-eastern border with the DRC, as well as guaranteeing greater routine vaccination coverage and conservation of the vaccines.

“Chevron and its associates of Block 0 and 14 are committed to contributing to the eradication of the wild polio virus in our country. The future of Angola depends on the safeguarding of the future generations and a healthy population. Once again we are partners of the Health Ministry”, Eunice de Carvalho declared.

According to the source, in recent times Chevron and its partners have invested over 30 million US dollars in programmes of diseases prevention, medical and hospital staff training, as well as in the construction of sanitary and health infrastructures and diagnosis projects.   

 
On her turn, the deputy minister of Health, Evelize Frestas, said the donation will serve to strengthen the polio eradication campaigns, at a time that the country has not registered new cases.

“We have to thank Chevron and its associates for showing that we can always count on its support”, she emphasised.