Angola

Life in Angola as a young girl came with a unique set of obstacles. As she suffered from dangerous high blood pressure while pregnant with her fourth child, Ndola's mother told her that delivery would be difficult and that if she didn’t survive, five-year old Ndola would need to take care of her two younger sisters and support the family. These alarming and often fatal pregnancy and childbirth stories were all too common in her community in rural Angola. Exposed to the dangers of childbirth at a young age within her own family and community, Ndola was determined to improve maternal health for women at home and around the globe. Now with Ndola as our Medical and Programs Director, VSI is proud to bring our misoprostol program to her home country.

VSI is committed to supporting the Ministry of Health and local health care providers in making pregnancy and childbirth safer for Angolan women through the integration of life-saving misoprostol tablets into safe motherhood programs and policies. At the invitation of the Ministry of Health, VSI began a safe motherhood program in Angola in October 2011.

By the Numbers

Estimated Total Population

19.6 M

Lifetime Risk of Maternal Death

1 woman in 29

Maternal Mortality Ratio

610 per 100,000 live births

Total Fertility Rate

5.7

Births Attended by Skilled Health Provider

47%

Source: PRB, 2011