Mozambique: Improving Medical Care
The Mozambican healthcare system suffers from an acute shortage of specialists, hygiene standards and a safe water supply. Cap Anamur is therefore providing aid in this country to improve medical care for the people.
Reconstruction of destroyed medical facilities
Cap Anamur has returned to Mozambique in 2022 to rebuild the health facilities destroyed by terrorist attacks in the province of Cabo Delgado (news from August 8, 2022). Since March 2023, we have been supporting the rebuilt health facilities and the provincial hospital in Pemba with seconded medical professionals (news from March 16, 2023).
Cap Anamur assigns medical professionals to Mozambique
Lukas has been working for us as a nurse in Mozambique since June, 2023. He initially supported the work in the rebuilt healthcare facilities in the north of the country. He accompanied the medical staff on rounds and medical check-ups and passed on his specialist knowledge to the staff. When terrorist attacks were again recorded in these regions, he concentrated his work on the provincial hospital in Pemba.
The staff there have to care for people under poor working conditions. There is an acute shortage of doctors and the supply of clean water and medication is inadequate. Cap Anamur has therefore initially improved the supply of medicines and optimized processes, particularly in the intensive care unit.
Our work ensures a significant reduction in mortality rates
Lukas uses bedside teaching to instruct his colleagues in the intensive care unit in various areas. He trains them in the correct application of medication, the interpretation of laboratory and vital parameters, responding to the actual condition of patients, adhering to hygiene principles and the correct behavior in the event of resuscitation, as well as better documentation. The hospital’s water supply was to be guaranteed with a connection to a new well. Unfortunately, two boreholes have failed so far. As a result, the water supply is currently still being temporarily bridged. However, in all other areas, Lukas’ work has led to a significant reduction in the mortality rate in the intensive care unit over the past year.
Our midwife optimizes the working process in the maternity ward
Alongside Lukas, Anja works as a midwife at the provincial hospital in Pemba. During her time there, she has optimized many birth processes, improved the hygienic conditions in the maternity ward and trained the midwives in important areas. Most recently, she carried out further training on the subject of first aid and resuscitation of newborns. She has also ensured that a new unit is set up exclusively for the initial care of newborns, where heated beds are also available.
Whenever the security situation allows, as there are repeated terrorist attacks in the northern regions, our team supports the work in the rebuilt health facilities there. Here we ensure that medicines are delivered and support the staff in caring for the people. In the future, the work in Pemba hospital will be improved by the opening of a new intensive care unit and the support of two new doctors. In addition, our midwife will optimize the supply of medicines in the maternity ward and the care of newborns.
All of these actions are improving medical care in the northern region of Mozambique, where the healthcare system has been severely damaged by years of terrorist attacks.