ANA DIAS LOURENÇO, PILLAR OF SOCIAL CHANGE IN ANGOLA

Ana Afonso Dias Lourenço is the First Lady of the Angolan Republic since September 2017 following the ascension of her husband, João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço to the presidency of the country. Economist and politician Ana Afonso Dias Lourenço is a former minister of the Angolan government under the late President José Edouardo Dos Santos.

Ana Afonso Dias Lourenço: A First Lady Committed to Angola’s Development

In her new role as Angola’s First Lady, Ana Afonso Dias Lourenço actively contributes to her country’s development alongside her husband, the President, by engaging in social initiatives.

As First Lady, Ana Afonso Dias Lourenço prioritizes initiatives aimed at improving living conditions, well-being, and capacity-building for the sustainable development of communities. She focuses on education, health, the environment, and culture, with particular attention to young girls. Her mission is to contribute to making Angola a country that Angolans are proud of, by preserving fundamental social and moral values.

She quickly embraced the strategy of integrated development, emphasizing assistance and improving the conditions of young people, particularly young girls and children in early childhood. This strategy led to the creation of the platform Roda do Amor (Wheel of Love). “It is a platform with a symbolic name to demonstrate love for children by providing them with care, access to education, and healthcare for their holistic development during our mandate,” stated Ana Afonso Dias Lourenço in an interview with Femmes d’Afrique Magazine.

As part of her advocacy for social causes, First Lady Ana Afonso Dias Lourenço called on all for-profit organizations to place social responsibility at the heart of their actions. This appeal was made on December 7, 2024, during her speech at the ceremony for the “Manuel Antonio da Mota Prize – A Life in Angola”. During this event, she emphasized the need for these organizations to act sustainably and become agents of change with a lasting impact on Angolan communities.

The First Lady has also gained recognition for her advocacy on gender equality and the fight against violence against children. On December 5, 2024, during the presentation of the action plan for the “We Are All Equal” campaign, she urged all Angolans to actively participate in combating violence against children and young people with determination and urgency.

“Education on gender equality and the fight against violence against children and youth should not just be a slogan, but a fundamental pillar of a future where no girl or boy is forced to endure the pain and scars of violence,” declared First Lady Ana Afonso Dias Lourenço.

Since its creation, the Roda do Amor platform has been working with children in hospitals. Several initiatives have been carried out in support of children. The pediatric department of Luanda General Hospital has received assistance from Roda do Amor, providing better conditions for children in the facility. The platform has donated clothing, toys, soap, toothbrushes, and various hygiene products for personal and oral care.

Beyond Luanda General Hospital, several other hospitals across Angola have benefited from Roda do Amor. The platform has established play and recreational spaces equipped with libraries, allowing children to engage in play and reading activities.

Health Sector

First Lady Ana Afonso Dias Lourenço and the Roda do Amor platform, committed to supporting the angolan government in reducing gender inequalities and strengthening social initiatives, have partnered with international organizations to build healthcare and educational infrastructure, conduct vaccination campaigns, and reduce both mother-to-child HIV transmission and maternal and child mortality.

In the fight against HIV/AIDS, First Lady Ana Afonso Dias Lourenço launched the Born Free to Shine campaign, which she described as a great success. Following the conclusion of this campaign, additional initiatives were developed to continue the fight against HIV/AIDS. The Born Free to Shine project, launched in 2018, contributed to reducing the infection rate from 26% in 2019 to 15% in 2021. The First Lady expressed her satisfaction, stating that thanks to her advocacy, many children in Angola are now born free of HIV/AIDS.

With the campaign’s closure, she remains dedicated to HIV/AIDS prevention programs through the Generation Without AIDS 2030 project. This initiative focuses particularly on young women and children, combating stigma and discrimination while aiming to significantly reduce AIDS in Angola by 2030. Ana Dias Lourenço continues to drive this mission through advocacy efforts, working in partnership with the government, civil society, and religious and traditional leaders.

“Let me share the example of an HIV-positive woman from Moxico who gave birth to triplets—none of whom are infected—thanks to the Born Free to Shine campaign and government support. Today, these children are seven years old and living HIV-free. We continue to monitor them and their family, for whom we have even built a home,” stated Ana Afonso Dias Lourenço.

In her efforts to make healthcare accessible to all, the First Lady also initiated the Tata Uhayele project. This program involves a mobile clinic operating in the Benguela and Luau municipalities, providing medical care to rural populations.

Several other projects in the health, education, and economic sectors have been launched under Ana Afonso Dias Lourenço’s leadership to effectively address social challenges in alignment with the government’s vision. Illiterate women in Angola are receiving financial empowerment training and literacy education, a testament to the First Lady’s dedication—over 75% of her initiatives focus on social development.

First Lady Ana Afonso Dias Lourenço has no intention of slowing down. With energy and determination, she continues to develop new projects and initiatives, ensuring that by the end of her husband’s mandate, Angola will shine on the social front.

For these noble objectives to be fully realized, local populations and authorities at various levels must play their part alongside the First Lady. If Angola’s technical and financial partners provide their support, the country could, in just a few years, position itself among the fastest-growing nations in terms of social progress and economic development.

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