Mozambique
Situation Report
Mozambique is one of nine African nations where the life expectancy has recently dropped blow 40 years - largely because of the AIDS pandemic. According to the United Nations, 12% of the adult population is infected with HIV. On average, 500 people contract HIV each day and the majority of these people are less than 29 years old.
The health sector has become increasingly strained because of HIV and AIDS. The hospitals and clinics see more patients with the same amount of funding and number of health care professionals. Only 500 doctors are available to care for a population of almost 20 million. Many Mozambicans cannot afford or have access to health care services -- more than half of Mozambicans live on less than $1 a day.
More than 10% of all babies die at birth and nearly 15% of children do
not survive past their 5th birthday.
Our Work
We sent 9 disaster relief teams to Mozambique to care for victims of severe flooding in 2000. Since 2006, we've funded a community-based HIV and AIDS prevention, care and support project for people living with AIDS and children orphaned by AIDS. We have also collaborated with Dorcas Aid International to bring maternity services to their health clinic in Beira.
Future Plans
We are supporting a comprehensive HIV and AIDS project, "Building Better Lives" which expands and strengthens the work of established and a highly respected indigenous community and faith-based organization. The goals are to prevent new HIV infections and provide quality care to people living with HIV and AIDS and children orphaned or made vulnerable by AIDS in underserved, rural communities in Sofala Province, Mozambique. We will provide resources and technical support to build institutional and technical capacity, improve systems and monitor the activities of the implementing partner organizations.
Our Partners
- Joseph and Perpetua Alfazema, both native to Mozambique, founded the Kapasseni Society in order to provide health and education services for Mozambicans living in poverty. In 1999, they constructed a school in one of the poorest, most remote and most devastated regions of Mozambique. Over the years, the organization has also provided water, food security and agricultural projects for the community. In 2005, they launched a desperately needed HIV and AIDS care and support project for people living with HIV and AIDS.
Kapasseni is a community-based organization with a faith foundation. This organization established the Kuwangisana project. The partner is registered as an NGO with the Government, civil society and is committed to the goals of the PEPFAR Plan. Kuwangisana currently provides home-based care and support for orphans and vulnerable children following guidelines established by the Government of Mozambique and under supervision by the Ministry of Health. The services provided are welcomed and supported by the community and there is a waiting list for care services and invitations to provide prevention education.
- The Lutheran Church currently has 9 established congregations in Caia District. Lutheran Church leaders have been active in establishing educational opportunities for rural youth, identifying orphans and vulnerable children and critically ill community members who need care and support, establishing relationships with traditional leaders, promoting community development, establishing youth groups and promoting AIDS awareness.
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has awarded Medical Teams International a grant through the New Partners Initiative (NPI), part of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), to increase our organizational capacity of and that of our local partner, Kuwangisana, while we work together towards providing AIDS prevention and care, as well as, support for those infected and/or affected by HIV and AIDS in the
Sofala Province.
RELATED LINKS