AID grant no. AOT-1008-G-00-3083-00 to the International Medical Corps (IMC) in support of the grantee"s applications, entitled `Establishment of an office in Luanda for emergency operations in Angola`, dated February 10, 1993, and `Emergency response program in Kwanza Sul Province, Angola`, dated April 8, 1993 and April 27, 1993

IMC (which recently had to evacuate all of its vaccination workers from southeastern Angola due to violence following the 9/92 Presidential elections) will establish a base of operations in Luanda, from which it will reinitiate an emergency immunization program throughout six communes in two municipalities; and establish a cold chain from the external base to vaccination sites, training local personnel in maintenance of the system. IMC will work with local Ministry of Health personnel to institutionalize an EPI program; offer EPI program administration assistance to provincial and municipal mid-level managers; transfer technical skills to Angolan vaccinators on EPI protocol, including proper disposal of contaminated material; and devise a plan for the program"s orderly expansion. Second, IMC will assess immunization coverage, disease prevalence, and nutritional status (especially among the displaced); identify changing health-care needs of the displaced; investigate and monitor outbreaks and epidemics as they arise; and monitor major population movements within the province. IMC will also design and recommend public health care interventions, supervise and monitor interventions which respond to team recommendations, and assist in the distribution and management of UNICEF drug kits.