Mozambique
Mozmed Tete Mozambique
The Mozmed project in Tete province, Mozambique, was started in the 1990s by South African nurses. Until 2024 the project was run by the
SAM Foundation, Support African Mission, works with local organizations and people to provide, support and where necessary improve medical care in remote areas of Africa, among other things.
The SAM Foundation has been active since 2000, supporting not only medical but also other projects in Africa that strive to improve people's living conditions.
The mission of the SAM Foundation is to bring medical care and education closer to people who, due to circumstances and availability, have less or no opportunity to receive medical care and/or education in Africa. SAM strives to be involved through financial and facility support and to keep the lines of communication as short as possible. Where necessary SAM assists in decision making and project implementation.
“As much as possible use is made of the clinics already in place. The staff in the local clinics are supported and trained, in addition health education is given to the local population.”
In the MOZMED projects and in the other SAM-supported projects in Mozambique, we work closely with the local health care system. Mozambique has 10 provinces, each provincial capital has a referral hospital (the three largest are found in Maputo, Beira and Nampula). The provinces are again divided into districts, with each district having a smaller hospital. There are also several health centers scattered throughout the districts, usually employing a nurse and a midwife. Mozambique is a long stretched country with a coastline of 3,000 km. The distances to a health center can mean several hours of walking for many people
The northern provinces of Mozambique are difficult to reach. Because there are few established clinics in this area, people who need medical help must travel great distances. Partly because of this, there is a great (medical) need in this area. To support and improve the situation, SAM started the MOZMED project.
The Mozmed project in Tete province, Mozambique, was started in the 1990s by South African nurses. Until 2024 the project was run by the
Eye Outreach 2026 – Angónia – Tete – MOZAMBIQUE
28 September – 2 October 2026
Finally, after many months of preparation and numerous meetings with health authorities at national, provincial and district level, we were able to welcome the ophthalmological team from South Africa on Saturday, 26 September. They arrived on a Mercy Air plane and landed at Vila Ulongúè after airport authorities and the local police had cleared the airstrip of pedestrians, bicycles and motorcycles. After an excellent landing, despite a strong crosswind, the plane came to a standstill on the small gravel apron and the Mozmed team was able to welcome Dr. Johan Eloff (ophthalmologist), Dr. Johannes Bührmann (generalist) and Mr. Tobias Meyer (Mercy Air pilot).
After unloading the plane, the team was taken to the IRM (Igreja Reformada de Moçambique) guesthouse where a meal was ready to be enjoyed before turning in. The next morning, after breakfast, we headed off to the local IRM church. During the service we had the opportunity to present the outreach and the medical team to the congregation. After church, we transported various equipment and materials, needed to operate, to the hospital. Whilst Dr. Johan and his team were busy installing the necessary equipment, I, together with the Mozmed team headed off to the village of Mphatso (1,5-hour drive) to fetch the first patients planned to be operated the next day. On arrival at Mphatso I was quite touched to see the group of people waiting to be taken to town to be operated on. These people have been completely blind for, who knows, how many years.
Monday to Thursday various teams helped to make the outreach a success. Students from the theological faculty of the Hefsiba Higher Education College (IRM) opened and closed each day with daily devotions and prayers. Dr. Johan Eloff, his colleague and the very capable staff from the local medical staff, triaged patients and operated the operable cases. The Mozmed team (Missao Betesda em Moçambique), supported by the Commission for Witness (NG Kerk in SA – Western Cape) and SAM (Support African Mission – The Netherlands), together with Mr. Tobias Meyer, was central in transporting patients to and fro the various outlying and remote communities. The Mozmed team was also responsible for providing meals for the patients during their stay in the hospital.
Unfortunately, Dr. Johan Eloff, ran out of certain materials needed to operate, by the end of Thursday and the team was unable to continue operating on Friday. All in all, many people were examined by the ophthalmological team and a total of 39 cataract operations were accomplished. We are grateful for the collaboration of all those involved and we may conclude that this outreach was a great success, giving sight back to 39 people. Finally, but not least, we would wish to thank our LORD for making this outreach happen. We look forward to repeating these outreaches on a yearly bases in the years to come.
“Thus far the LORD has helped us” 1 Samuel 7:12 (NIV)
Ex animo et corde,
Pim de Lijster
Below you find the report from Dr JZ Eloff, Ophtalmoligist, about the Eye Outreach.
Please click on the link:
This started with the support of the Nkhoma Hospital in Malawi. Pim and Willemijn de Lijster worked there from 1999 to early 2003. In 2008, in cooperation with Pim and Willemijn, the SAM Foundation started the MOZMED (Mozambique Medical) medical project in Mozambique. The MOZMED projects in Moma and Gurúè were completed in 2014 and 2015 and after this new projects were started in other areas and a new MOZMED project in Niassa.
