Violence against children in Uíge province is rising alarmingly, with over 700 cases reported from 2021 to 2023, according to the Instituto Nacional da Criança (INAC). Rosária da Conceição Alfredo, the provincial director of INAC, highlighted the increasing numbers and the likelihood of unreported cases. Nkondo Ilengo from the Associação das Escolas Comunitárias noted the organization's efforts in counseling and nutritional support but emphasized the lack of material and healthcare support. INAC plans to implement awareness activities and a comprehensive program to strengthen child protection networks in the province.

The Global Fund has announced a new funding proposal of 126 million dollars to combat HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria in Angola for the period from 2024 to 2027. António Coelho from ANASO revealed that the funds will be allocated with 50 million for HIV/AIDS, 34 million for Tuberculosis, and 42 million for Malaria. The funding will support three provinces, expanding subnational support based on saturation principles and a complete service package. Over 300,000 people in Angola are living with HIV/AIDS, according to the Instituto Nacional de Estatística (INE).

Adalberto Costa Júnior, the president of UNITA, accused authorities in Uíge of attempting to sabotage his visit, despite recent calls for increased tolerance and dialogue by MPLA's parliamentary leader. He reported encountering organized groups opposing his presence and criticized the ruling party for prohibiting participation in events. Costa Júnior also expressed concerns about poverty, unemployment, and lack of economic activity in the municipalities he visited. Attempts to get reactions from MPLA officials were unsuccessful.

The national police and the Uíge Patrol and Reaction Unit dispersed a student protest on Saturday morning, detaining two activists, Zonda Pedro and Firmino Felipe Nkano (Mam Filas). The protest, organized by the Movimento dos Estudantes de Angola (MEA) with support from civic activists, aimed to demand the resumption of higher education classes that have been suspended for over 40 days. The protest was dispersed shortly after it began, with reports of students being beaten and detained. MEA's provincial secretary, Guimarães Domingos Kanga, reported that there are orders to detain him as well. The detained activists were released on Sunday.

In Uíge, Angola, women living with HIV/AIDS are facing hunger and discrimination, which hinders their ability to take antiretroviral drugs. They have appealed for help and employment during a recent meeting with the province's first lady, Zulmira da Roch, and the director of the Provincial Public Health Office, Kavenaweteko Adelaide Malavo. Engraça Fernando, a widow and mother of eight, and Albertina Pinto, who faces discrimination from her husband, shared their struggles. Maria Paulo, a 40-year-old who has overcome many challenges, called for the creation of support centers for those stigmatized by the disease.

Entrepreneurs in the Angolan province of Uíge warn that the state airline TAAG's suspension of flights to the provincial capital will negatively affect businesses and consumers. TAAG recently canceled flights to Uíge, 10 months after resuming them following a nearly 20-year hiatus. The suspension, which also affects Cuito, is part of a domestic flight program adjustment effective from March 3 until May 31, with a reassessment scheduled for June 1, 2023. Local hotel manager Kekele Domingos and businessman Santos Tomás express concerns over travel difficulties and the potential loss of tourists and urge the government to address the situation promptly.

The Angolan government has agreed to significantly increase pensions for war veterans, as revealed by José Maria de Lima, the Secretary of State for National Defense. Despite the approval of the General State Budget, veterans expressed dissatisfaction with the current pension amounts and the government's promises. The opposition party UNITA criticized the reintegration process, claiming many veterans remain marginalized. The article also discusses the distribution of resources like tractors to veterans, with allegations of favoritism towards those affiliated with the ruling party MPLA.

In Uíge, Angola, over 45,000 students are forced to study under trees due to a lack of proper school infrastructure, with some even learning in ruins or abandoned houses. Union leaders Amândio Vieira Dias and Raul António criticize the provincial government for not including primary school construction in their projects, despite the PIIM initiative. Parents are calling for government intervention, but officials have either refused to comment or confirmed no plans for new schools.

Dozens of students from the School of Health Technicians in Uíge, Angola, were expelled on Thursday, February 23, for allegedly being involved in document forgery, buying spots, or acquiring spots through influence. The decision was made by a joint inspection team created by the Health and Education delegations in Uíge, which found irregularities in the admission process of new students.

Justice technicians and administrative staff of the Angolan Attorney General's Office protested in Uíge, citing poor working conditions, lack of health insurance, and the need for a review of their remuneration status as their main grievances. The protests were organized by the National Union of Justice Technicians and Administrative Staff.

UNITA and FNLA express concern over the dire conditions faced by former combatants and veterans in Uíge, accusing the MPLA government of violating agreements related to land access, tax exemptions, and other social services. Afonso Teka of FNLA highlights the lack of dignified living conditions and unfulfilled promises, while Felix Simão Lucas of UNITA criticizes the inadequate subsidies provided to veterans, calling for greater government attention to their plight. The only housing project for veterans in the province, initiated in 2013, remains stalled for unknown reasons.

Heavy rains in the village of Kiangani, Aldeia Viçosa commune, Uíge province, destroyed approximately 34 houses, leaving over 150 families homeless. Neto Domingos Sabuca, head of the municipal social action commission, reported the damage affecting 173 people. Victims like Arnaldo Monteiro and Adelina Morais are calling for aid. The municipal administration of Quitexe, led by Dionisia Fernanda António, is working to provide minimal assistance. In the regedoria of Aldeia Kica, Uíge municipality, storms and hail destroyed around 20 houses, leaving over 60 families homeless. Efforts to contact local authorities for a contingency plan were unsuccessful.

Pregnant women and mothers of newborns in Uíge, Angola, report mistreatment by nurses, accusing them of aggression and lack of humanity. Similar complaints were recently reported in Malanje. Health authorities deny these incidents.

The National Union of Justice Technicians and Administrative Staff of the Attorney General's Office in Angola has announced a new wave of protests and strikes due to poor working conditions, lack of health insurance, and the need for a review of the remuneration statute. Elias Manuel Pinto, the union's secretary-general, emphasized that the country has the financial resources to address these issues and criticized the government's inaction. The protests will include marches in Luanda and other provinces.

A union leader has called for police authorities to investigate the school meal program, citing clear indications of fund misappropriation. Speaking in Uíge, Miguel Teta Neto, president of the Education, Culture, Sports, and Social Communication Workers' Union, emphasized the need for greater oversight. He highlighted the lack of transparency and the substandard quality of the meals provided. Local students and parents in Uíge reported being unaware of the program's existence. Benilde Gombo, head of planning and statistics at the provincial education office, stated that the program is managed directly by municipal administrations. The municipal administration of Uíge did not respond to VOA's inquiries, while Carlos Alberto, the municipal administrator of Mucaba, reported spending over thirty million kwanzas on the program last year.

Artisans and other artists in Uíge are grappling with the economic difficulties that the sector has always faced. To maintain tradition and sustainability, the provincial government advises artists to unite in cooperatives.

Nelito Ekuikui of UNITA in Luanda challenges the President to fulfill his promise of holding municipal elections in 2023, while MPLA spokesperson Rui Falcão responds that UNITA should positively contribute to the remaining municipal legislative package in the National Assembly. The two major Angolan parties have been exchanging accusations regarding the elections, with the legislative package still incomplete and scheduling not yet done by the new National Assembly President, Carolina Cerqueira.

After several strikes in the education sector, classes resume in Angola. In Uíge, students and parents are concerned about the delays caused by the strikes, while educators assure that there will be no further delays.

The economic crisis has affected most people in 2022, and as the festive season approaches, many consumers are looking at their pantries with some dismay. A visit to a market in Uíge reveals how families are preparing for a special week to celebrate Christmas.