Luanda: At least 370,000 people are currently living with HIV/AIDS in Angola, according to the country's Secretary of State for Public Health, Carlos Alberto Pinto de Sousa. He said that of that number, 71 percent know their serological status and 51 percent are undergoing antiretroviral treatment.
According to Angola Press News Agency, speaking at the opening of a workshop dedicated to advances in medicine in the fight against HIV/AIDS, the official said that Angola has made progress in recent decades, keeping pace with scientific advances worldwide that have allowed the development of effective therapies capable of ensuring a long and healthy life for people living with HIV, alongside innovative strategies for preventing transmission and reducing risk.
He highlighted that Angola has consistently followed international guidelines and strengthened its national strategic plans with the support of bilateral and multilateral partners over the past 35 years. This has enabled the country to achieve an estimated prevalence of 1.6%, the 2024-25 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, placing it among those with the lowest prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa.
However, despite this progress, the country still recorded 21,000 new infections and 15,000 AIDS-related deaths, figures which reinforce the need to intensify response efforts. Within the scope of the Mother-to-Child Transmission Prevention Program, treatment coverage for pregnant women was reported to be 79 per cent, while the vertical transmission rate decreased from 26 per cent in 2019 to 15 per cent in 2021. This highlights the positive impact of the 2019-2021 Operational Plan, which was implemented within the framework of the 'Born Free to Shine' campaign led by the First Lady of the Republic, Ana Dias Louren§o.
By December 2025, 183,885 people were receiving antiretroviral treatment for HIV, of whom 177,590 were adults and 6,295 were children, according to the official. The Secretary of State believes that revising Law No. 08/04 of November is a significant step towards strengthening the national response and represents a historic opportunity to provide the country with a modern legal framework that can address contemporary challenges and protect the health and rights of citizens.
He advocated the creation of legislation that promotes solidarity and justice and eliminates legal and social barriers, aligning it with international and regional best practices. However, he stressed that the fight against HIV/AIDS does not only take place in hospitals or laboratories, but also requires modern, inclusive and fair public policies.
'The strategic importance of the workshop lies not only in discussing scientific advances, but also in updating the current legislation, which has been in place for about two decades,' he said. Carlos Alberto Pinto de Sousa said that the national response must be based on principles of human dignity and the protection of the rights of people living with HIV. Particular attention should be given to the most vulnerable populations, including adolescents, young people, women, children, and key populations. The response should promote non-discrimination and universal access to healthcare.
He also identified stigma, discrimination and the sustainability of the response and funding as persistent challenges, advocating prioritising interventions in the fields of information, education, communication, promotion and prevention to reduce the impact of the social determinants of health. He emphasized that the fight against HIV is a fight for life, dignity, social justice, and national progress. He highlighted the Executive's commitment to mobilizing resources and promoting inclusive legislation to ensure that no one is left behind.