The Mozmed project in the Tete province of Mozambique was started in the 1990s by South African nurses. Until 2024, the project was under the local church in Vila Ulongue, and as of 2024, it has been taken over by “Missao Betesda em Mocambique”, which now monitors the project. This project provides prenatal care and a vaccination program for children aged 0 to 5 years. Every week, three visits are made to remote areas where up to 150 children are vaccinated at a time, up to 50 pregnant women receive prenatal care, and approximately 50 patients are also seen. In this way, 10 clinics are performed over the course of a month. In addition to the prenatal care and the vaccination program, a medical technician has been attached to the Mozmed program since early 2024, allowing medical care to be provided as well. The team now consists of a medical technician, two local midwives, and a nurse who administers the vaccinations. Furthermore, we have a driver of the car who also provides general assistance. Malaria tests are performed and patients are seen, both adults and children. Some women have to walk for a few hours to reach the clinic.
The clinics visited are generally a good 2-3 hour drive from Vila Ulongue, the home base from which the clinics are visited. If necessary, seriously ill patients are taken along and transferred to the local hospital in Vila Ulongue, where further care can be provided and, if needed, further referrals are made.
The SAM Foundation (SAM) is closely involved in the implementation of the Mozmed project in Tete. Every year, the chairperson of SAM visits twice to assist the team with logistical planning and to maintain contact with local, provincial, and national ministries of health.
