Health Ministries Update
Recently the Health Board Department of the UMC in Mozambique provided a report on its activities occurring from June to September 2021. The report, written by Rev. Maria Joao Matsinhe, is below.
Health area recognition
- Areas of coverage were visited, to get an idea about the distances and possible limitations.
- Activities were developed successfully. Areas of Mabumbuza, Chicuque and Cambine were visited as a foundation for the work.
- Consultations were made to local leaders and volunteers as elements of connection to our activities in communities.
Presentation in the governmental structures
The new Health Coordinator was introduced to the governmental structures, namely the district administrator and the district health administrators of Massinga, Morrumbene, Maxixe and Chibuto, including the presentation of purposes and plan of activities in this area and seeking government support and openness in efforts for disease prevention and combat.
Government institutions were excited especially when we visited the Morrumbene administrator with the Bishop Joaquina Nhanala and when we visited Chibuto.
Mobile clinics
The objective is to move hospital services to the community, helping reduce distances and to provide the health care in own community.
Mobile clinic areas of coverage include:
Mabumbuza, in Massinga District- 20 km from Massinga village. This comprises areas of Manhenje, Nwalifure, Murrie, Ngomane, Muchungu, Murenze and Mabumbuza locations, the biggest regions of coverage, 25 km away on average from the Murie Health Post.
Chicuque Area: Mobile clinics in Barrane, Nhabanda, Teles and Nhamaxaxa. These are areas located far from Chicuque Rural Hospital which is the referral hospital.
Cambine Area: After the interruption of mobile clinics, some community concentrations benefited support from another project, the Medicus Mundi. This aspect scaled down our area of coverage from 12 to eight of the previous period. The referred areas are: Chicurane, Malale, Gotite, Hongonhane, Meluge, Maimela, Bambeluane and Buvane. A memorandum was signed between the United Methodist Church and Health Services (on September 23, 2021) by D.S of Morrumbene Emilia Cumbane replacing Bishop Joaquina Nhanala.
The mobile clinics covers the following activities:
- Prenatal consultations
- Weight control of children under five years old
- Malaria checking
- Vaccination programs
- Family planning
- Nutrition demonstrations, which consisted in cooking porridge to demonstrate how to prepare rich nutrition feeds for children
- Pregnant women and HIV people. (Due the COVID-19, the latter is no longer in practice)
- Triage of adults and kids
- Health education with different topics
- Community health involvement
Training of local leaders and volunteers
A total of 42 volunteers in Mabumbuza and 69 in Cambine are working with communities by connecting to the community and health services. Training was developed in Mabumbuza in different topics: Malaria prevention in pregnant women and children’s healthcare; premature marriage constraints; COVID-19; cares of pregnant women, safe abortion and exclusive breastfeeding. Cambine volunteers will be trained next and next year will be in Chicuque. The training was successfully received.
Perspective
The dream is to extend the intervention to other districts like Panda, Homoine, since constraints were identified due the distance walked by the community, especially pregnant women from their homes to the hospital looking for prenatal care. It will then be extended to other annual conferences, Mozambique North, Southeast and South.
Acknowledgment
Profound thanks to the Mozambique Initiative by providing resources to the department of health for mobile clinics activities. Special gratitude to our brother Ezequiel Nhantumbo for his hard work, diligence and commitment in making this project productive.
Appreciation to the Bishop Joaquina Nhanala for her support. God is good; He protects us in many living and working situations.