PRAIA, April 1 (Xinhua) -- The government of Cape Verde and the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday signed a 2026-2027 work plan valued at around 2.46 million U.S. dollars in the capital Praia.
At the signing ceremony, Health Minister Jorge Figueiredo said the two-year plan will help advance health sector reform, modernize services, and strengthen the country's response capacity.
He said the funding will go toward national priorities as the health sector faces challenges, including non-communicable diseases, mental health, aging population, and the impact of climate change.
Figueiredo added that the plan comes as Cape Verde implements its Health Charter and National Health Policy 2025-2035, which calls for better service organization, greater equity among islands, digitalization, and stronger human resources.
WHO Representative in Cape Verde Ann Lindstrand said the new plan will support efforts in universal health coverage, primary care, service quality, digitalization, medicine regulation, and health workforce development.
She noted Cape Verde's progress in recent years, including certification as a malaria-free country, the elimination of measles and rubella, and the country's first kidney transplant.
Lindstrand said the WHO is also mobilizing additional international partners, including Morocco and China, to help close the remaining funding gap. ■