The funding comes at a time when the country remains vulnerable to health emergencies exacerbated by extreme weather events...
Mozambique's preparedness for future epidemics and pandemics has gained new momentum with the guarantee of US$17 million in funding from the Pandemic Fund.
The announcement was made in Geneva, Switzerland, on the sidelines of the 79th World Health Assembly, during a meeting between the Mozambican delegation and officials from that international mechanism created after the COVID-19 pandemic.
The funding comes at a time when the country remains vulnerable to health emergencies exacerbated by extreme weather events such as cyclones, floods, and recurring cholera outbreaks. Nevertheless, the Minister of Health, Ussene Isse, believes that Mozambique has made significant progress in strengthening national health security.
Among the advances presented by the government official are the approval of the National Action Plan for Health Security in 2023, the expansion of public health laboratories to all provinces, the creation of the National Operational Center for Public Health Emergencies and the National School of Public Health, in addition to the approval of the National Cholera Elimination Plan.
For Ussene Isse, this milestone represents a gain for the health sector and serves as an opportunity to strengthen international cooperation in health and the mobilization of strategic partnerships.
During the meeting, the executive director of the Pandemic Fund, Priya Basu, said that Mozambique's selection represents international recognition for the efforts made by the country in controlling outbreaks and strengthening its capacity to respond to public health emergencies.
The financial support should be applied to strengthening national systems for prevention, preparedness and response to epidemics, at a time when several African countries are seeking to consolidate mechanisms for health surveillance and rapid response to health crises.
Mozambique's participation in the 79th World Health Assembly also occurs within the context of mobilizing strategic partnerships and international cooperation to accelerate the modernization and increase the resilience of the national health system.
(By Joana Mawai)
