Lubango - The First Lady of Angola, Ana Dias Lourenço, visited Wednesday the Irene Neto Maternity Hospital, a unit that was just re-inaugurated by the Angolan Head of State, João Lourenço.
The visit took place a few hours after the re-inauguration of the hospital, as part of the celebrations of the International Women's Day marked on March 8.
Ana Dias Lourenço was accompanied by the Health minister, Sílvia Lutucuta, with whom she interacted during the visit of about one hour.
The Irene Neto Maternity Hospital in Lubango, the Health minister said, is the first in the country to implement the digital record of routine vaccination from the delivery rooms.
The minister said the innovative solution developed by the Ministry of Health will allow to digitally monitor, in real time, the vaccination of children, adding that the mechanism will contribute to the continuous improvement of the quality of health services provided.
According to the minister, the maternity hospital will contribute decisively to the improvement of maternal and neonatal health indicators allowing the provision of quality medical assistance.
In the minister's opinion, the operation of the Maternity Unit will boost the population's access to an increasingly efficient and humanised health service, as well as being a reference in central and southern Angola.
The rehabilitation and expansion of the Irene Neto Maternity Hospital began in 2021 and was carried out, following a public tender, by the construction company MOTA-ENGIL.
The project is part of the Angolan Revitalisation Programme (social bonus), of the Block Zero Associations, which includes Total, ENI and Cabinda Gulf Oil Company.
The initiative is managed by the Angolan Ministry of Mineral Resources, Oil and Gas, as well as the National Oil, Gas and Biofuel Agency.
The rehabilitation of the health unit, which has 122 beds, 81 cots and a neonatal area with 20 incubators, was budgeted at around12.5 million US dollars.
The health unit was named after the nationalist Irene Neto, who stood out in the fight for the country's independence, as well as in the defence of noble causes.
Among the causes defended by Irene Neto were the interests of the underprivileged, women's rights and the fight against illiteracy.
Irene Neto is the sister of the first President of Angola, António Agostinho Neto. She was born in Kaxicane village, Municipality of Icolo and Bengo.
