Having emerged from more than 30 years of civil war, Angola has made substantial progress in economic and political terms and achieved significant progresses. The country’s infrastructure is noticeably improved, and its economy was rebounding quickly due to its vast oil wealth, but this progress has decreased with the crisis the country is facing due to decreasing oil prices.

Despite these successes achieved, Angola is actually in the 148 position in the UN’s Human Development Index, meaning that the country remains in the lowest quintile. The county has lagged behind on its social welfare indicators and still has one of the highest child mortality rates in the world. Its maternal mortality ratio is also above average, even among other developing countries, because women lack access to and understanding of modern contraceptives. Only 12% of women of reproductive age are using a modern contraceptive method. Access to safe drinking water and sanitation is still limited to roughly 50% of Angolans. The primary causes of morbidity and mortality continue to be infectious diseases including malaria, respiratory infections, diarrhea, tuberculosis and measles – all of which accounted for 96% of diseases reported by the Ministry of Health in 2011.

PSI/Angola was established in 2000, initially to work on HIV/AIDS prevention and later broadened its scope to include malaria and diarrheal disease prevention in 2004. In coordination with the Angolan Ministry of Health and many other partners, PSI/Angola is increasing access to essential health commodities and implementing targeted behavior change communications. By leveraging commercial and community distribution channels, PSI/Angola complements public sector distribution efforts and contributes to increasing coverage levels.

PSI/Angola has several products on the market, including the long-lasting insecticide treated net, (LLIN) Jóia, the water treatment pills, Certeza, and the Legal and Sensual condoms. Tem Mais network of pharmacies was launched in 2014 and aims to provide accurate and affordable malaria rapid diagnostic testing and treatment of confirmed positive cases of malaria. PSI/Angola is currently launching different products and services related to family planning: IUD insertions in a quality-assured women’s health network of clinics, and third generation contraceptive pills, among others.

• Women’s Limited Choice and Availability of Modern Contraception at Retail Outlets and Public-Sector Facilities in Luanda, Angola, 2012–2015
  Despite high rates of unintended pregnancy, access to a wide range of contraceptive methods, especially injectables and long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), is severely limited in both public and private facilities. Knowledge of contraceptive choices is likewise limited, yet a substantial proportion of women are not using their preferred method among the methods they know of.
• Towards Subsidized Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests. Lessons Learned from Programmes to Subsidise Artemisinin-Based Combination Therapies in the Private Sector: a Review
  Private sector subsidy programmes of ACTs have been effective in increasing availability of ACTs in the private sector and driving down average prices but struggled to crowd out antimalarial monotherapies. A subsidy of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) in the private sector has been recommended by governments and international donors to cope with over-treatment with ACTs and to delay the emergence of resistance to artemisinin. In order to improve the cost-effectiveness of co-paid RDTs, we should build on the lessons we learned from almost 10 years of private sector subsidy programmes of ACTs in malaria-endemic countries.
• Knowledge, Empowerment and Positive Social Norms as Drivers of Consistent Condom Use among Female Sex Workers in Angola
  This presentation discusses a study with aimed to identify factors associated with consistent condom use among female sex workers (FSWs) with all their clients during the last month prior to the survey. The results inform evidence based programs aiming at reducing HIV risks among FSWs.
• Effectiveness of IPC and TV Ads on HIV Risk Reduction Behaviors Among FSW in Angola
  Angola is a country in reconstruction after 30 years of war, that presumably limited the spread of HIV in the country. The program at hand included IPC activities such as promoting condom and lube use, referral to HIV testing, and reducing discrimination against key populations. Additionally, TV ads promoted condom use.
• Factors Associated with Consistent Condom Use with Non-Marital Partners among Truck Drivers and Assistants in Angola
  In Angola, truck drivers are separated from their families for long periods of time, traveling through areas of high HIV prevalence and frequently reporting paying for sex in non-marital relationships. HIV prevalence among this population is 4%, twice that of men of the same age in the general population (UNAIDS, 2008). In 2013, PSI/Angola conducted a study to identify factors associated with consistent condom use among truck drivers and their assistants with non-marital female partners. This presentation reviews that study.
• 2012 Mid Year Region and Country Dashboards, East Africa
  Mid-year East Africa region and country impact dashboards for 2012
• 2011 Region and Country Dashboards, Eastern Africa
  Eastern Africa region and country impact dashboards for 2011
• Healthy Lives: Superheroes Protect Angolan Children
  
• PSI/Angola Safe Water Program
  In order to reduce child mortality due to diarrhea, PSI/Angola launched Certeza, a point-of-use water treatment product, in April 2008.
• “Trust is Principal Barrier to Condom Use”
  PSI researchers found that trust in one’s partner is the main reason for not using condoms with a marital or regular partner in Africa, and dislike of condoms is the most important reason for not using them with a casual partner, in what is apparently the first multi-country study of barriers to condom use.