BENGUELA, 3 July 2025 — The World Health Organization (WHO) in Angola participated in the International Congress of Medicine hosted by the Private University of Angola (UPRA) in Benguela, underscoring its continued collaboration with academic institutions to advance universal health coverage and health systems strengthening in Angola.

The WHO Representative in Angola, Dr Indrajit Hazarika, delivered a keynote presentation during the high-level opening session of the Congress, alongside national and provincial authorities. His remarks emphasised the urgent need to reinforce primary health care, boost public financing, address health inequities, invest in the health workforce, and strengthen governance to accelerate progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Angola and across the continent.

Following the opening session, WHO colleagues Victor Luteganya and Filipa Vaz led two interesting presentations. Victor focused on sustainable financing for UHC, highlighting the importance of equitable and efficient funding models that enable all people to access health services without financial hardship. Filipa spoke about the challenges and opportunities for advancing health research in Angola, stressing the importance of developing locally relevant science to inform public health priorities. Both presentations led to engaging discussions with participants and reinforced WHO’s commitment to knowledge sharing and technical collaboration.

WHO also applauds the active participation of future health leaders at the Congress. Among them were Bezaleel Guerra, Fábia Leite, and Fernanda Spencer, medical students from UPRA who previously worked alongside WHO during Angola’s successful national immunisation campaigns in 2023. At the Congress, they presented their research on health issues including human papillomavirus (HPV), showcasing a clear dedication to improving health outcomes in their communities.

“We are proud to see our young collaborators now presenting their own work and contributing meaningfully to the national health dialogue,” said Dr Hazarika. “This is what partnership looks like, empowering institutions and individuals to shape a healthier future.”

WHO Angola expresses sincere appreciation to UPRA for the invitation and for its continued partnership. The engagement of academia, especially young health professionals, remains critical in the pursuit of resilient health systems and a healthier Angola for all.