World Day of the Sick 2026: Catholic Bishops in Angola Call for Urgent Health Sector Reforms, Humanization of Care
Credit: Catholic Archdiocese of Luanda/Archdiocese of Huambo
On the annual World Day of the Sick marked on February 11, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, Catholic Bishops in Angola have called for urgent reforms in the country’s health sector.
Speaking during separate Eucharistic celebrations marking the event, Archbishop Filomeno do Nascimento Vieira Dias of Angola’s Catholic Archdiocese of Luanda, and Archbishop Zeferino Zeca Martins of Huambo Archdiocese lamented structural deficiencies in the country’s health sector, and urged a renewed commitment to more humane and dignified care for patients.
In the Archdiocese of Huambo, Archbishop Zeca expressed concern about the current state of healthcare in Angola during Holy Mass celebrated at the courtyard of the Huambo Regional Hospital on Wednesday, February 11.
He invited the faithful and public authorities to reflect seriously on the challenges the country’s hospitals face.
“I ask you to reflect on healthcare in our country. How are our hospitals doing? What responses are we giving to the diseases that continue to affect our population?” the Angolan Catholic Archbishop posed, clarifying that his remarks were not mere criticism but “questions that demand concrete solutions.”
He emphasized that the sector’s challenges cannot be ignored, especially when human lives are at stake.
According to Archbishop Zeca, every leader—administrative, political, or religious—must act according to right conscience and take responsibility for improving healthcare delivery.
A key concern he raised was Angola’s dependence on imported medicines.
“We note that in our country, we do not produce medicines. Why do we not produce them?” he queried, noting that “investment in this area is essential to reduce costs, ensure autonomy, and guarantee greater effectiveness in treating patients.”
The Angolan member of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD) also underscored the need to improve working conditions for health professionals.
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He questioned whether doctors, nurses, and technicians receive fair salaries and dignified working conditions, warning that precarious employment “undermines the quality of care provided to patients.”
Despite the challenges, Archbishop Zeca commended the staff of Huambo Regional Hospital for their dedication and sacrifice, describing their daily commitment as a “sign of hope amid adversity.”
He called for courageous policy changes to ensure that the right to health becomes a concrete reality for all citizens.
“It is not enough to recognize the problems; they must be faced with courage, so that the right to health ceases to be merely an ideal and becomes an effective reality for all citizens,” Archbishop Zeca said.
In Luanda, Archbishop Dias focused his message on the humanization of healthcare services during a Mass celebrated at the Lucrécia Paím Maternal and Child Hospital.
He emphasized that a hospital must be more than infrastructure and equipment.
“A hospital needs a soul; it needs spirit and commitment to the beauty of life,” the Angolan Catholic Archbishop said, warning that without a human attitude, even the most modern facility risks becoming “a great mausoleum.”
Archbishop Dias encouraged healthcare professionals to persevere in their demanding mission, recognizing the emotional burden they carry as they “confront pain and suffering daily.”
He reminded them that the hospital is a place where life is “protected and hope is nurtured.”
The Catholic Church leader further noted that humanization requires teamwork and shared responsibility, calling on all stakeholders to ensure that “every patient is welcomed and treated with dignity.”
Referring specifically to the maternity hospital’s mission, he reflected on the sacredness of life from its earliest stages and urged staff to remain conscious of the nobility of their work.
While appealing to authorities to continue investing in better hospital conditions, the Catholic Archbishop insisted that the true difference lies in the attitude of those who serve, as this fosters “trust and credibility among the population.”
João Vissesse is an Angolan Journalist with a passion and rich experience in Catholic Church Communication and Media Apostolate.
