Angola: improved healthcare facilities and nutrition services in Uíge

In the Municipality of Damba, Uíge Province, Angola, we have just completed the rehabilitation of healthcare facilities and handed over the renovated spaces as part of the Eni for Clean Cooking project, implemented in collaboration with Eni and Salesiani Don Bosco, in close partnership with the Government of Angola.

At Rainha Santa Isabel Hospital, the Special Nutrition Unit, Outpatient Consultation Area and Minor Surgery Room have been renovated. A brand new space dedicated to cooking demonstrations and practical nutrition activities has also been built, complementing the nutrition services provided by the facility. Rehabilitation works have also been completed at Makanda Health Centre, contributing to improved healthcare infrastructure in the municipality.

Promoting nutrition through comprehensive care

Our work in Uíge goes beyond cooking demonstrations, combining prevention, treatment and capacity-building to improve the nutritional health of children with acute malnutrition.

At the peripheral level, the project supports the establishment of outpatient nutritional services for children with acute malnutrition, provides training and on-the-job support for healthcare workers, rehabilitates and equips health facilities, supplies essential commodities, and distributes food and non-food kits.

At the hospital level, activities include establishing inpatient nutritional services for children with acute malnutrition, strengthening healthcare workers’ skills through training and on-the-job capacity-building, rehabilitating and equipping facilities, supplying essential commodities, and distributing food and non-food kits.

Practical nutrition education is also central to the initiative. Through open kitchens and cooking demonstrations in health facilities and local communities, our teams share practical advice on food groups, nutritious ingredients and healthy food preparation, helping families apply what they learn in their daily lives.

“Through nutrition education and cooking demonstrations, we help communities understand the importance of a balanced diet and learn how to prepare healthy, nutritious, and affordable meals using locally available ingredients. In doing so, we promote healthier eating habits, prevent malnutrition, and improve the health and well-being of families.” Said Isabel Thiongueno – CUAMM Nutritionist.

From health facilities to local communities

Two open kitchens are already operational, at Songo and Quiteche, while the new space in Damba is being prepared to begin activities. At Songo Municipal Hospital, which has a paediatric department and a functioning malnutrition unit, the demonstrations reach a particularly large number of participants, including mothers accompanying children receiving hospital care. Sessions are organised in groups to facilitate participation and discussion.

At Quiteche, cooking demonstrations take place at the health centre, reaching people attending outpatient services. The activities are also being extended beyond healthcare facilities: community-level demonstrations bring nutrition education closer to families and provide opportunities to discuss healthy eating in familiar settings.

Since October 2025, the project has recorded 40 cooking demonstrations in local communities and 41 sessions at the open kitchens in Songo and Quiteche. With the inauguration of the new space in Damba, the initiative is set to extend its reach further.

Cleaner cooking for healthier families

Improved cookstoves are an important component of the initiative. Compared with traditional three-stone fires, they can reduce exposure to harmful smoke and lower the consumption of firewood or charcoal, depending on the stove and how it is used. These benefits can contribute both to protecting household health and to reducing environmental impact.

By combining improved healthcare infrastructure, nutrition education and cleaner cooking practices, the project addresses interconnected aspects of family health. The renovated spaces provide settings for healthcare services and practical learning, while cooking demonstrations help translate nutritional information into everyday choices.

Through the collaboration with Eni, Salesiani Don Bosco and the Government of Angola, we continue to support initiatives that bring together healthcare, prevention and community engagement, with particular attention to the health and well-being of mothers and children.