CONTEXT
In 2024, Angola’s nutrition programme remained focused on improving Vitamin A Supplementation (VAS) coverage for children aged 6–59 months. Despite consistent efforts, overall VAS coverage remained low, at 16%. This was mainly due to significant challenges with the delivery platform, including vaccine stockouts during the first semester of 2024, which disrupted outreach services and weakened VAS uptake. However, progress was observed in provinces where UNICEF and local implementing partners intensified support, particularly in Luanda, Huíla, and Benguela.
Significant disparities in VAS coverage persist between provinces, ranging from a low of 3 percent in Bengo to a high of 43 percent in Cabinda, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to address the unique challenges faced by each province and municipality.
Increased Coverage of VAS in Girls and Boys Under Age 5
UNICEF played a key role in providing technical support to the National Directorate of Public Health in reviewing the final draft of the National Vitamin A Strategy. Advocacy efforts ensured that the strategy incorporated a gender dimension and aligned with WHO guidance. The strategy’s approval is expected to strengthen the framework for VAS delivery and promote gender equity in nutrition outcomes. UNICEF also supported the development of the National Immunization Strategy, which will serve as the primary platform for VAS delivery for children between 18 and 59 months.
Efforts to increase equitable VAS delivery focused on targeted interventions, health systems strengthening and improved supply chain management. Overall two-dose coverage remains low in Angola at 12% in 2024 a four-percentage point decrease from 2023. Despite this low national coverage, progress was made in select provinces through VINA support. VINA funds supported targeted efforts in Benguela province, and as a result VAS coverage increased from 32 to 36 percent, while Huíla province saw an increase from 27 to 39 percent. Five provinces—Luanda, Huíla, Benguela, Cabinda, and Cuando Cubango—reported coverage above 25 percent, with direct programme support in three of these provinces contributing to improved outcomes. The intensified efforts included deploying integrated mobile outreach teams, collaborating with local leaders to identify eligible children, and expanding service delivery points to close the access gap. These activities were complemented by broader multisectoral collaboration to integrate nutrition-sensitive approaches across health, education, and social protection sectors.
UNICEF supported the finalization of the National Vitamin A Strategy, which reflects the findings from the GBA and aligns with the National Immunization Strategy and the Community Health Strategic Plan. The integration of VAS into the immunization platform is expected to enhance the efficiency and reach of supplementation efforts.
Training and mentoring of health facility staff also remained a priority. In Luanda province, UNICEF supported a workshop on vitamin A, deworming, and gender sensitization, training health staff and supervisors. Supportive supervision visits were conducted to assess and improve VAS coverage. The Angola Paediatrician Society (SAP) played a key role in providing technical support and in-service training to strengthen the capacity of health workers to deliver VAS equitably.
Increased Empowerment in VAS Programming for Women with Children Under Age 5
A major achievement in 2024 was the completion of data collection for the GBA, which provided critical insights into the gender dynamics influencing VAS uptake. Twenty government staff, including 12 women, were trained and participated in data collection in Huíla and Bengo provinces. The analysis revealed that men’s dominance in decision-making and financial control often limited women’s ability to access healthcare services. Addressing these barriers will be central to improving VAS coverage moving forward.
Community engagement was another area of focus, where UNICEF's implementing partners facilitated the creation of 319 support groups—168 mother-to-mother and 151 father-to-father groups—in the provinces of Huíla, Cunene, and Benguela, 319 (168 mother to mother; in the Provinces of Huíla, Cunene, and Benguela reaching a total of 1008 women and 906 men. These groups conducted nutrition awareness-raising activities for VAS and adopted explored social and behaviour change (SBC) strategies to strengthen community engagement. Plans are underway to expand this successful model to Namibe province.
Angola also made progress in gender programming through policy, advocacy, and community-led initiatives. UNICEF produced Angola’s first Gender Budget Brief, reinstating the gender markers in the 2025 State Budget. Community-led initiatives expanded girl-to-girl mentorship programs like ‘Minha Kamba’ to address teenage pregnancy and strengthened father-to-father and mother-to-mother groups for gender-sensitive nutrition education. Youth engagement was enhanced through capacity-building for women- and youth-led organizations. High-level government commitment was evident in the "We Are All Equal" campaign and Angola’s membership in the Global Alliance on VAC. Despite progress, challenges remain, including limited CSO capacity, weak intersectoral coordination, entrenched gender norms, and insufficient funding.
A comprehensive media plan was developed by UNICEF to ensure widespread impact. The campaign has proven successful in involving men in promoting child health. These radio and media campaigns contributed to increased awareness and uptake of VAS services. From August to December 2024, six radio stations, including Angola National Radio, 54 radio spots broadcasted VAS-related messages. These campaigns reached a national audience and reinforced key messages on the importance of Vitamin A for children.
Across all VINA countries, Angola had the highest number of Women’s Rights Organizations (WROs)and Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) mobilized as gender advocates Angola mobilized 7 WROs and 10 CSOs to organize workshops in 3 provinces on nutrition, gender and VAS.
Lessons Learned
The completion of the GBA provided critical insights into the gender dynamics influencing VAS uptake. The findings underscored the importance of addressing male dominance in household decision-making and improving women’s access to healthcare services.
Key Challenges and Mitigation Measures
Vaccine stockouts and supply chain weaknesses posed significant challenges to VAS delivery in 2024. The distribution of Vitamin A capsules in 2024 was delayed due to supply chain disruptions. Supplies arrived in March 2024, but distribution was delayed until November due to inadequate stock management and weak guidance on the distribution system. Despite these challenges, UNICEF supported the quantification of vitamin A needs and prepared distribution plans. Efforts to improve supply chain oversight are ongoing, with the aim of strengthening delivery mechanisms and ensuring timely access to supplies in 2025
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