The Science of 'Washing Your Hands'

On the first-ever Global Handwashing Day sponsored by UNICEF on October 15, students and teachers from more than 700 participating schools across Angola engaged in symbolic acts of handwashing and listened to government leaders speak out about the importance of using water and soap.

Attending the launch of Global Handwashing Day was UNICEF Representative in Angola Angela Kearney.

“Today only marks the beginning of a major push to promote handwashing with soap as a natural and necessary habit – in schools, in the family, in institutions. We know it can save children’s lives so we cannot afford to take it lightly,” she declared.

At least two million cases of diarrhea are recorded every year in Angola, with 30% of cases recorded in children under the age of five years.  This has resulted in an average 20,000 child deaths per year.

Improvements in access to safe water and adequate sanitation, along with the promotion of good hygiene practices (particularly handwashing with soap), can help prevent childhood diarrhea. In fact, an estimated 88 per cent of diarrheal deaths worldwide are attributable to unsafe water, inadequate sanitation and poor hygiene.

UNICEF maintains that washing hands with soap can save lives and reduce about 47% of the infantile death rate, caused by diarrhea, due to the lack of hygiene.

Washing one’s hands with soap is an important barrier to transmission and has been cited as one of the most cost-effective public-health interventions. Research suggests that handwashing with soap is effective even in overcrowded and highly contaminated slums in the developing world; washing hands with water alone is much less effective in preventing disease than using soap. Soap breaks down grease and dirt that carry germs and disease-causing pathogens. Using soap also increases the amount of time spent washing hands, compared to water alone, yet lack of soap does not seem to be a major barrier to handwashing: it has been found that 95 per cent of mothers in developing countries have some sort of soap product at home.

To better understand ways to promote hygienic behavior, UNICEF research has been carried out regarding consumers’ handwashing habits and factors that motivate change. This research shows that key triggers for handwashing are feelings of disgust, nurture, comfort and desire to conform, rather than health concerns alone. These findings are being used to create more effective hygiene programs. (UNICEF, ANGOP)

From "Guns to Roses". An Angolan Soldier's Story

For a former number three of UNITA guerrillas, Antonio Urbano Chassanha, who hung up his uniform in 1992 and is now based in Lobito, Angola's southern coast, the past life of the military, has been changed into that of an entrepreneur, into a branch of floriculture.

In order to settle with accounts of the past and guard those past memories, he has written two books, "Angola: Onde Os Guerreiros Não Dormem” (2000)  (Translated: "Angola: Where The Warriors Don’t Sleep") and  “Esanju: A Rebelde Do Wambu” (2003) (An Umbundu language title) on the history and legends with ovimbundo traditions that pass from generation to generation through the oral tradition.

Now living in Catumbela, between Lobito and Benguela, Urban Chassanha explains that now being refurbished from the Angolan Armed Forces, he does not want to spend the rest of the days "sitting on the couch in front of a television."

Together with his wife, Anabela, three years ago they had the idea of producing plant species replantings and from there progressed to the production of ornamental trees, plants and flowers.

"I had a teacher who said that, ‘He who knows suffering better appreciates the happiness of others.’ Indeed, creating life through seed matter, having expectations for it to pop up, keeping up with its growth and then putting  it in bag is a whole dynamic that gives us much enjoyment, "he says.

Former senior officer of the Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola (FALA / UNITA), Urban Chassanha was a deputy of the in the "Black Rooster" delegation in the Joint Commission, a body created to oversee the implementation of the United Nations sanctioned Protocol of Peace signed in 1994 in Lusaka.

Three years ago, through his book writing and other events, his life changed and he took on a role in a new vocation: gardening.   He opened his business, Lobitus Garden Horto and his new ambitions were realized.

"We experimented with indigenous trees, whose seeds were taken from an area between Balombo and Bocoio (Benguela province).  These plantings sprung up well and are in good health, and in this success we have the ability, when we are asked, to produce millions of species," says proudly.

Along with him he has 42 employees who help him in the ‘process of creating life’, which is the starting point in the rehabilitation of the living areas of Angola.

Converted to his new identity, Urban Chassanha considers that it has not been a difficult transition from ex-guerrilla to florist.

"I often say that the war did not create us many options. Peace creates us all the possible options and gives us imagination. It was not at all difficult. I like what I have done and have an interest in doing more, because it is an area that gives me immense pleasure,” he emphasizes.

And Angola? Does the country that is more than 10 years out a of civil war that left thousands dead and maimed and destruction behind, ready to replace the bullets for flowers?

"I think the country has all the conditions to move forward. Weaknesses are specific to a process that is not easy.  Also, nobody naturally thinks of the facilities needed for the future. It takes work.  It needs a lot of work," he says.

"I believe that in time all wounds can be healed. He also notes, that he is very pleased with the eagerness of people to learn more, forming an extremely positive sign.  Those of us, the older people, are here to tell them the history "

"I am giving a compass to create this project, but when I feel that this project is up to speed, after a time I  will devote myself to writing," he concludes. (Lusa website)

Angola's Emerging Contemporary Artists

In the rebuilding of Angola’s society after the war, a burgeoning crop of contemporary artists, especially in Luanda, are expressing their inspirations to the world.  Here is the view of two well-known Angolan artists.

António Ole, one of Angola’s most admired and internationally acknowledged artists.  He expounds,  “The world is in transition. And during transitions there tend to be artistic explosions, explosions of creativity. Right now, everyone should be alert. Interpreting the world is part of what we artists do,” he says

One of a handful of artists who stayed on in Angola during the civil war, Ole, 60, has since exhibited all over the world including in venues such as London’s Hayward Gallery and the National Museum of African Art in Washington DC. He has also taken part in international exhibitions including the Venice Biennial, the São Paulo Biennial and ‘The Short Century: Independence and Liberation Movements in Africa, 1945–1994’ at New York’s Museum of Modern Art.

Ole’s work includes film, sculpture and photography as well as painting. “What astonishes me is people’s creativity in Angolan civil society,” he says. “I feel very inspired by this positive energy. Development is not only about education and health; it is also about the evolution of a cultural identity. From independence onwards, Angola has tried to find, construct and keep this identity. It’s a long marathon in which everyone takes part. What Angola still needs is a more balanced society. Then you’ll see that we’re going to create artistic champions.”

Another well-known Angolan painter is Paulo Kussy, 34. He studied fine arts in Lisbon and is fascinated by the human body. He passes on his artistic expertise to students at the Methodist University of Angola.

Kussy attended school in Luanda up until the sixth grade. He then lived in Lisbon with his family for 17 years. He spent all his family holidays were spent either in Rome, Madrid, Florence, Venice or Lisbon, the culture of which influenced him profoundly. Kussy returned to Angola, where critics immediately applauded his art.

“Painting is like writing a song,” Kussy explains in the café of a Luanda city centre hotel. “You spend five days thinking about the lyrics and the melody. Then you go to the studio, close your eyes and just let it go.”

Kussy is inspired by the Pre- Raphaelites, neoclassicism, baroque art, cubism, surrealism, architecture, graffiti art and the hectic day-to-day life of Luanda. “I enjoy looking at people,” he says. “Our structure, muscles, fat – I study people when I look at them.” His paintings are all about “people fighting for space” and he places great emphasis on anatomy. “The figures in my paintings ask for help. They’re aggressive, they’re submissive, they are pulled away, pushed against.

“What’s Angolan about my work is that I’m Angolan. I’m contributing to the development of my country. There should not be a preconceived idea of what is Angolan or African or black or white art. Art is all about the individual,” he argues.

“I’m mostly influenced by cities because I didn’t grow up in the countryside. Big buildings, structures, that’s my library. Not a woman carrying a child, or an elephant, a lion or a baobab tree. I’d be lying if I painted that. It would be fake.” (Sonangol Universo Magazine, October 2012)

Ensuring Angola's 'Food Security'

Luanda — The Republic of Angola recently received USD $100,000 from the country of Brazil to the UN Infant and Children Education Fund (UNICEF) to assist children and women in situations of food shortages. Brazil is joining the UNICEF in providing for initiatives of reinforcement of food and nutritional security in Angola, particularly in drought hit regions covering ten of the country's 18 provinces.

With the Brazil's funds, UNICEF will reinforce the Angolan Government initiatives to overcome the challenges of nature, thus ensuring food security, through prevention and treatment of malnutrition, supply of drinking water for affected children and their families in the provinces of Zaire, Bié, Kwanza Sul and Huíla.

Currently, some 10% of Angola's population are subject to food insecurity, as outlined in the OCHA (Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affair of the United Nations) diagram below. According to the latest WHO data published in April 2011, malnutrition deaths in Angola reached 9,095 or 4.35% of total deaths; one of the highest death rates for this cause worldwide. 

The World Food Summit of 1996 defined food security as existing “when all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life”.  Commonly, the concept of food security is defined as including both physical and economic access to food that meets people's dietary needs as well as their food preferences.

Food security is built on three pillars:

• Food availability: sufficient quantities of food available on a consistent basis;
• Food access: having sufficient resources to obtain appropriate foods for a nutritions diet;
• Food use: appropriate use based on knowledge of basic nutrition and care, as well as adequate water and sanitation. (AllAfrica.com, OCHA

Removing Angola's Landmines: The Remaining Task

MALANGE, Angola – Ten years after the end of the civil war in Angola, the country still remains, despite its best efforts, one of the most unexploded mine-affected countries in the world. The African nation was due to finish the demining by 2013, but the Angolan government is requesting a five-year extension to complete the task.

According to the United Nations Development Program, more than 80,000 people in Angola have been maimed by landmines since war broke out in 1975, and thousands more were killed.  One out of eight Angolans lives in a landmine-affected community, and the 30 years of war have riddled all provinces with mines.

One of the NGO's working to de-mine the affected areas is the Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) which has 132 local employees and 2 international staff. Beyond the modern equipment and technology that Norwegian People's Aid's team uses rats in their demining efforts. Rats have an exceptional sense of smell and can be trained to detect explosives.  Unlike metal detectors, they can detect both metal and plastic-cased landmines and can release up to 400 square meters of land per day.

NPA also relies on villagers to tell them where the mines and other explosive devices are located. The agency has teams to sensitize the people on the risks and on the danger of mines and other unexploded devices. They have observed that the villagers are very conscious of the dangers and when they find a suspected mine, they work with NPA to remove it. 

The Norwegian NGO works with the national demining commission, CNIDAH, which coordinates the efforts of both NGOs and local demining teams. The commission monitors the operations all across the country.

CNIDAH's departmental head of operations, Brigadier Roque de Oliveira, says the government has put a great deal of effort into demining, because it is deemed crucial for the development of the country.

"For Angola to grow and develop, especially in agriculture, we need to demine. For Angola to build houses and schools that were destroyed during the war, we need to demine. And we need to demine railroads to improve development as well."

Besides agriculture, the country and the region also have the potential for tourism. Just a few kilometers away from the landmines are the third biggest waterfalls in Africa. Ten years ago, few people would venture here. Today, it has become a popular place for locals and expatriates to visit.
 
The Angolan government has recently asked for a five-year extension to finish demining, arguing that only 40 percent of the job has been completed in the past decade. (Voice of America)

Angolan Youth Making Beautiful Music

Every day in the district of Samba, a part of the Angolan capital Luanda, about 60 children and adolescents faithfully take lessons each day in classical music on donated violins, basses, and cellos.  This is all a part of the  Kapossoka School of Music, created by Angolan professor Peter Fançony, the director and founder of the school which also supports Kapossoka Symphony Orchestra.

Founded on October 10, 2008, the original idea for the school was to provide a place where Angolan children could engage in cultural activities to prevent crime and stop the misuse of leisure time.  In providing a learning opportunity for needy young people, the school underwrites the costs of all the fees and materials, oftentimes offering clothing and meals.  With interest from the government, even high ranking government officials have personally provided funds for the school's operation.

As City Director of Samba, Professor Fançony traveled in work to the Philippines in early 2008, where the then Angolan ambassador in that country, Flávio Fonseca, also shared the same interest in classical music. The conversation flowed naturally and Flávio Fonseca showed Peter Fançony a violin factory.  From that factory, 60 violins, 10 cellos and 6 contrabasses were ordered, which are being used today.

Recently the Kapossoka Symphony Orchestra, comprised of students training at the music school, took part in an international festival of youth orchestras in Argentina, called the Festival of Iguazu.  At this festival, the Kapossaka Symphone Orchestra won 1st prize in the category of "Effort, Attendence and Good Conduct".  Upon their return back to Angola, the Orchestra was received and greeted by the President of the Angolan Republic, José Eduardo do Santos who congratulated the students on their honor. (TAAG Austral Magazine)