JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - The director-general of the World Health Organisation yesterday met with officials in Angola in a bid to improve cooperation in the fight against AIDS, malaria and other common diseases in the African nation.

Oil-rich Angola has struggled to rebuild hospitals, clinics and other parts of its health infrastructure since emerging from a 27-year civil war in 2002. It has one of the world's worst infant mortality rates.

WHO director-general Margaret Chan will be briefed on the financial and technical challenges facing Angola's health sector on her visit this week, the state-run ANGOP news agency said yesterday, citing a health ministry statement.

Chan is expected to visit health clinics that provide primary care to women and children and meet with United Nations employees and representatives of non-governmental organisations in Luanda, the Angolan capital.

"My visit is primarily intended to understand the problems that exist and what is the most effective way for the WHO to help this country," Chan told reporters after arriving on Sunday at Luanda's international airport.