Angola strengthens its preparedness for public health emergencies with the inauguration of the Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC)

In 2025, the public health system in Angola was put under severe pressure due to public health emergencies, such as the cholera outbreak that affected the country, exposing structural vulnerabilities while also creating momentum for critical reforms and strategic investments. One such investment is the national Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC), which was launched yesterday in Luanda, accompanied by the simultaneous launch of six regional PHEOCs in the provinces of Luanda, Cabinda, Lunda Sul, Uíge, Huambo, and Huíla, marking a historic moment in strengthening the country's health security.

The Public Health Emergency Operations Center (PHEOC) is a dedicated physical structure for coordinating information and resources to support health emergencies, playing a central role in preparedness and coordinated response in Angola. In recent years, it has become clear that health emergencies can quickly undermine years of social and economic progress when countries are not adequately prepared. The creation of a fully functional national network of PHEOCs allows Angola to strengthen intersectoral coordination, accelerate emergency response, and ensure timely action.

The PHEOC will serve as a central pillar of health security, supporting surveillance, risk analysis, incident management, and strategic communication during emergencies. This integrated approach strengthens the country's capacity to prevent, detect, and respond in a coordinated and effective manner to public health crises, protecting the population, and reducing the impact of outbreaks, epidemics, and other health threats.

By prioritizing emergency preparedness and response, the Government of Angola demonstrates a strategic vision aligned with international commitments, including the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), and with lessons learned from recent outbreaks. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank supported the Ministry of Health to achieve this progress.

During the ceremony, Her Excellency the Minister of Health, Dr. Silvia Lutucuta, highlighted the joint efforts of all health professionals and international partners, in particular the WHO and the World Bank, which made the establishment of the national PHEOC and regional centers possible. Thanks to this ongoing collaboration, these investments will have lasting impacts in reducing costs associated with delayed responses, strengthening the health system, and increasing national resilience to future emergencies.

After the inauguration, one of PHEOC's first actions is expected to be the preparation of the next Annual Self-Assessment Report of the States Parties to the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005), "reinforcing accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement of national preparedness," said Dr. Indrajit Hazarika, WHO Representative in Angola.

The World Health Organization reaffirms its full commitment to continue supporting the Government of Angola, in particular the Ministry of Health, by providing technical and strategic assistance to ensure that PHEOC translates into concrete benefits for communities across the country and, together, build a country that is better prepared, safer, and more resilient in the face of public health emergencies.