Special Mothers Project donates reusable diapers, sanitary pads to parents and students

The Special Mothers Project, an advocacy and awareness creation organisation on cerebral palsy issues has distributed reusable diapers to selected members.

The organisation also donated reusable sanitary pads to students of the Madina Demonstration school.

The reusable diapers and sanitary pads were donated from Noah Mapalo Help Centre, a non-profit voluntary organisation, a UK based organisation that supports deprived families with reusable sanitary products.

The beneficiary families 16 in all, are all parents of children with cerebral palsy whose children depend on diapers every day.

One of the families told the GNA that the reusable diapers came at the right time, ‘I was contemplating on where to get money to buy diapers for the next week, then this came in’

The parents as well as the students of the Madina Demonstration School expressed gratitude to the donors for the gesture.

Source: Ghana News Agency

Government pledges to allocate 910,000 land plots for self-construction

At least 910, 000 plots of land will be made available across the country by 2027, the minister of Public Works, Urban Planning and Housing, Carlos Alberto dos Santos said on Thursday.

Delivering his speech at the mobility project award ceremony for the provinces of Zaire, Bengo and Luanda, held in Nzeto, northern Zaire province, the minister said the move is part of the self-construction programme aimed to reduce the housing deficit estimated at 2.2 million of units.

He said the programme will benefit many citizens, mainly young people.

The minister recalled the ongoing construction project of 3,000 homes for the province of Zaire, including 1,500 for the municipality of Mbanza Kongo and the same number for Soyo.

The mobility project in the provinces of Zaire, Bengo and Luanda is part of the rehabilitation of 93 kilometers of road in these three regions of the country.

The overall package of this project, estimated at 127.2 million euros, includes revamp of Cacuaco/Kifangondo (Luanda) section, in charge of construction firm Mota-Engil Angola, SA and supervised by DAR Angola

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

Environment minister concerned about flora destruction

Angolan minister of Environment Ana Paulo de Carvalho Thursday in Soyo, northern Zaire province, discouraged the destruction of flora and biodiversity, calling for strict Law enforcement on environmental crimes in the country.

The minister made the appeal at the end of a mangrove planting campaign, as part of the closing programme of activities ahead of the World Environment Day, held under the slogan: “All Hands Together to Save Our Planet.

Ana Paula de Carvalho expressed concern over the extinction of some forest species in the municipality of Nzeto (Zaire) and other regions of the country’s coast, as result of human interference.

She also said that the rigorous application of the law on environmental crimes would reduce offences against the environment throughout the country.

The official explained, on the other hand, that in a first phase, the Ministry has opted for educational campaigns to raise awareness among individual and collective entities.

She recalled that in addition to help and renew oxygen, mangroves and other forest species also protect the marine ecosystem, stressing the need for their preservation to avoid the emigration of some animal species.

Ana Paula de Carvalho said that many companies and individuals ignore the environment, despite the awareness and education actions the Provincial Governments and associations carry out in the communities.

The minister’s 48-hour visiting agenda to Soyo, northern Zaire province, includes to launch “Educar para Reciclar” programme and a lecture on the “national strategy and action plan on biodiversity

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

President urges for responsible use of social media

Angolan head of State João Lourenço Friday in Luanda called for responsible use of the Social Media, ahead of celebration of this tool on Friday (June 30).

João Lourenço reiterated the appeal to take advantage of Social Media for academic, cultural and professional advancement, as well as promoting business.

In personal Facebook account, the Statesman encouraged the users of Social Media to take advantage of this tool to connect with the world of science and innovation.

João Lourenço discouraged the use of these virtual public spaces with negative things, propagation of lies, intrigue, intolerance and hatred.

The date for celebration of the World Social Media Day was created by the website Mashable in 2010 as a way to recognise the digital revolution that has made media a social environment.

The day is celebrated by organising informal gatherings of people from around the world by technological means or in person.

Some events are streamed live online and are open to all, to make the date truly social

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

Protocol on operation of “Tata Uhayele” project signed

A partnership protocol for implementing the Tata Uhayele project was signed Friday in Lobito, coastal Benguela province.

Signed the protocol were the Ngana Zenza Foundation for Community Development (FDC), the Ministry of Transport and the Benguela Railway (CFB).

The objective of Tata Uhayele (Take care of your health, in the Umbundu national language) is to provide health care to vulnerable communities along the Lobito Corridor, covering the provinces of Benguela, Huambo, Bié and Moxico.

Medical assistance will be carried out in two clinical carriages operated by the CFB and ensured by specialised personnel.

Addressing the ceremony, Angola’s First Lady, Ana Dias Lourenço, expressed her appreciation and gratitude for the participation of the partners.

She added that Tata Uhayele is a train of hope with which it intends to contribute sustainably in improving social assistance in the country.

In order to achieve this goal, Ana Dias Lourenço defended cooperation, adding that the success entails everyone’s involvement and participation.

Ana Dias Lourenço appealed to private companies specialised in the health sector to join this initiative, adding that “their support is crucial and will demonstrate the power of collaboration and partnerships to achieve significant results”.

“As founder and President of FDC, I am committed to promote initiatives such as the Tata Uhayele project and to work to ensure that everyone has access to the health care they need”, she emphasised.

In his speech, the minister of Transport, Ricardo de Abreu, said that the health is a good that, being universal, does not always reach those who need it.

“What we are witnessing today is a small step, of the much that we have to do, but which, if well implemented, will contribute to increasing the life expectancy of local populations and for their quality and development to be achieved objectives.” , he stated.

The mobile clinics have a team of thirteen professionals – two electrical doctors, an ophthalmologist, a general practitioner, two laboratory technicians.

While for nursing, pediatrics, ophthalmology, sterilisation, pharmacy and reception, there is a technician for each area.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

National Assembly speaker highlights Parliamentary system in democracy

National Assembly Speaker Carolina Cerqueira highlighted Friday in Lisbon, Portugal, the role of Parliamentary system in democracy, described as the voice of voters, diversity, dialogue and concert.

Carolina Cerqueira was addressing a celebration session of the International Day of Parliamentarianism, which took place at the headquarters of the Portuguese Parliament.

The Speaker stressed that they are voices of political representation in diversity, in the political debate that generate perspectives for new ideas, better approaches, dialogue and of conciliation, all these ingredients contributing to the solidity of parliamentary democracy.

“It is a noise, sometimes deafening, but always necessary, so that everything changes in a better direction, especially people’s lives, the process of development of societies and countries”, stressed the leader of the Angolan Parliament.

According to Carolina Cerqueira, there is an urgent need for everyone to work on their translation, in order to have an understandable version, which must be at the same time faithful, but fluid, integrated, more formal, genuine, publishable and, above all, scrutinous.

On the other hand, she considers it unfair not to point out the evolution of the form of the Government that thinks of people, women and men dedicated to keeping democracy alive, with acts and words spoken in plenary, listening to them, debating them and immortalizing them in ideas and later in relevant actions.

“Gender equality is implemented with economic and social development, along with a new culture of full respect for the human person and for their full personal and professional fulfillment”, she said.

Carolina Cerqueira took the opportunity to reinforce the invitation for the Parliamentarians to attend the 147th Assembly of the World Parliamentary Union in October in Luanda.

The presence of guests at this event, she said, will serve to deepen the political debate on the progress and main difficulties of contemporary parliamentary system and its numerous challenges, in particular, the promotion and preservation of peace and its impact on the lives of populations around the world.

Various speakers are expected to address this solemn session. They include leaders of parliaments from Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and Zimbabwe.

There were also speeches delivered by Edite Estrela, as vice speaker of the Portuguese parliament, and Duarte Pacheco, speaker of the Inter-parliamentary Union.

As part of her presence in Portugal, Carolina Cerqueira participated, for two days, in various activities included in the programme of commemorations of the International Day of Parliamentarism.

The meeting was attended by the Angola to Portugal, Maria de Jesus Ferreira, and a group of MPs from parties with seats in the Angolan Parliament

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)