Safe return to school for the school year.
The school year has arrived, it's time to believe, learn and transform the world.
- Portuguese
- English
UNICEF joins the Ministry of Education (MED) to implement a set of actions that will ensure a safe return to school in the provinces most affected by the cholera outbreak, through the "Safe Back to School Campaign".
The initiative will cover a total of 113 schools in the provinces of Cabinda, Zaire, Uíge, Lunda Norte, Cuanza Sul, Huíla, and Namibe, directly benefiting students, teachers, and school communities to reinforce the commitment to protect children's health, and ensure the continuity of teaching activities, even in contexts of health emergency.
The symbolic act of launching the campaign, which took place on August 13, marks the official start of the distribution of essential materials — soap, bleach, hand sanitizer, buckets, prevention guides, and visibility materials — aimed at reinforcing hygiene, safety, and community mobilization measures in the selected schools.
The distribution aims to ensure that each school has adequate conditions for regular hand washing, disinfection of surfaces and sensitization of students and staff about cholera prevention practices. With this action, UNICEF and MED reinforce their joint commitment to protect children's health and ensure the continuity of teaching activities, even in contexts of health emergencies.
The symbolic delivery ceremony of cholera prevention materials was attended by the Secretary of State for Pre-School and Primary Education, Dr. Francisco Pacheco, and the acting UNICEF Representative, Cristina Brugiolo.
The UNICEF Representative recognized the leadership of the Angolan Government in the fight against cholera, with concrete actions such as ensuring access to drinking water, vaccination, as well as efficient treatment of patients.
"Cholera can affect people of all ages, but young children are particularly vulnerable to the disease as they have weaker immune systems and are more likely to become dehydrated quickly. By providing water, soap, biosafety material, we contribute to the protection of children and help create a safer environment for them." added UNICEF representative Cristina Brugiolo.
The Safe Back to School campaign reinforces some of the results achieved so far, reinforcing concrete cholera prevention and response actions with interventions in the provinces most affected by the cholera outbreak.
"We reaffirm that investing in early childhood education is sewing opportunity: true social transformation is born in the preschool classroom. It is our duty to strengthen the training of educators and ensure that each child begins their journey with confidence, curiosity and equity." Francisco Pacheco, Secretary of State for pre-school and primary education.
In addition to the distribution of hygiene materials to these same provinces, the campaign includes community awareness actions with the sharing of information, training teachers and school staff on preventing and combating cholera.
