

Luanda - The director of the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control (APOC) Paul-Samson Lusamba Dikassa, said Monday in Luanda that Angola can eliminate the neglected tropical diseases.



Speaking to reporters, on the sidelines of the meeting on advocacy aimed at addressing aspects of the African programme for control of onchocerciasis, the official said that Angola has a positive planning a strategy of campaign that helps quickly eliminate this disease.



"In the African region, four countries, such as Southern Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic and Angola, are already affected by this disease, responsible for blindness and skin problems, especially in more remote areas," he stressed .



According to Paul Samson Lusamba Dikassa, Angola can eradicate onchocerciasis by 2020, with the experience it developed in polio campaigns.



This disease is endemic in Angola in 50 percent of the territory, that is, in nine of 18 provinces and 27 percent of municipalities (44 out of 164), according to data released by the Representation of the World Health Organization (WHO) in Angola.