About Angola

In sub-Saharan Africa, a unique way of life flourishes among a historic compilation of cultural characteristics and indigenous dialects. One of the largest countries in west sub-Saharan Africa, Angola is home to nearly 18 million inhabitants. After many years of struggle under a nationalist government, merely five years have passed since the people of Angola initiated the daunting task of transforming a severely broken infrastructure.

Although a country rich in natural resources, the wealth extracted from the production of diamonds and oil often fails to furnish the necessities of those living below the poverty line. In fact, nearly three-fourths of the Angolan population currently survives on less than $2 a day. In a constant battle with poor health and even worse economic circumstances, Angolans continuously strive to reinstitute stability and hope to someday develop the potential for economic prosperity.

Unfortunately, Angola is plagued by the adverse impact of common diseases and conditions such as malaria, acute respiratory infections, measles, neonatal tetanus, acute diarrhoeal diseases, malnutrition and HIV/AIDS. Perhaps the most influential contributing factor to such conditions is the widespread lack of healthcare knowledge and practices in most communities and especially secluded, rural villages.

With some of the worst healthcare statistics in all of sub-Saharan Africa, Angola is severely impacted by its high rates of infant mortality. Although Angolan women birth on average seven children, their minimal knowledge of hygiene and healthcare practices and inadequate medical support guarantees that at least one of those children will die at birth and another will suffer the same fate before the age of five.

In efforts of combating this epidemic, the Angolan government actively engages in partnerships with international NGOs to strengthen Angola’s healthcare system. Improving the drastic healthcare conditions in Angola and many other developing countries in the same horrific situation requires collaboration from international organizations, such as MediSend, who are passionate and focused on improving these unfortunate situations by Sending Hope and Saving Lives.