On 23 and 24 September, the Ambassador of Italy to Mozambique, Gabriele Annis, was on a mission to Beira, the capital of Sofala Province, to visit Italian Cooperation projects in the public health sector. He was accompanied by Maria Cristina Pescante, Deputy Head of the Maputo Office of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS).
The mission began with the launch of “Pink October”, the month dedicated to breast cancer prevention. In Sofala Province, the campaign also focuses on cervical cancer. At the Macurungo Health Centre, the Ambassador presented capulanas to women who underwent screening. The capulanas were produced as part of the “Capulana é Vida” awareness campaign promoted by AICS, and their design was selected through a public competition open to young people from the province. At Macurungo Primary School, the delegation then took part in the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign organised by the Community of Sant’Egidio, which involved more than 30 girls aged between 9 and 11.
At Beira Central Hospital, the delegation visited the Telemedicine service established with Italian support. The service connects hospital specialists with peripheral health facilities to monitor patients with chronic conditions in cardiology, pulmonology and endocrinology. The Ambassador observed a cardiology teleconsultation with Marromeu District Hospital, located more than 300 km away.
The visit to the health projects concluded with the inauguration of the laboratory at Chingussura Health Centre. The laboratory was rehabilitated as part of the Italian programme for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases. Local authorities and representatives of the Ministry of Health attended the event. The delegation also visited the new Provincial Operations Room of the National Institute for Disaster Management and Risk Reduction (INGD), equipped with Italian support to strengthen early warning and emergency response systems.
The mission also provided an opportunity for a series of institutional meetings, which confirmed the strong cooperation between Italy, the city of Beira and Sofala Province. Ambassador Annis met with provincial health authorities, the Governor of Sofala Province, Lourenço Bulha, the Secretary of State in Sofala Province, Manuel Rodrigues, and the Mayor of Beira, Albano Carige. The interlocutors expressed their appreciation for the Italian Cooperation’s decades-long commitment to the province, particularly in the health sector. Together, they expressed their interest in further strengthening the partnership, also in light of the development prospects of the Beira Corridor and new cultural promotion initiatives.
During the mission, the Ambassador also presented the distinction of Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy to Dr Nelson Moda, of the Community of Sant’Egidio. The distinction recognises his contribution to the dialogue between the Government of Mozambique and RENAMO, which led to the signing of the Maputo Peace and Reconciliation Agreement in August 2019. The ceremony took place in the Municipal Council of Beira, in the presence of local authorities, the Italian community and numerous representatives of institutions and civil society.
“These projects have a direct and immediate impact on people’s lives: a woman who undergoes screening in time, a girl who receives a vaccination, a patient from a rural district who can be seen by a specialist without having to travel hundreds of kilometres,” said Ambassador Annis. “Ensuring access to healthcare for all remains one of Mozambique’s most important challenges, and Italy intends to continue addressing it together with the Mozambican authorities. We are doing so by supporting prevention, innovation and the strengthening of health facilities closest to local communities.”
