Health Ministry the most transparent public institution in Mozambique – MISA

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Health Ministry the most transparent public institution in Mozambique – MISA

4:27 CAT | 29 Sep 2022

File photo: Lusa

The Health Ministry is the most transparent public institution in Mozambique for provision of information of public interest, announced this Wednesday the Mozambican Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA).

These are the findings of a new report released in Maputo marking the International Day for Universal Access to Information (IDUAI), which this year the world celebrates under the theme “Artificial Intelligence, e-Governance and Access to Information”.

According to the report, besides responding in a timely manner to requests for information, the Health Ministry also updates its website on a regular basis and is present on social networks, particularly Facebook.

MISA Chairperson Jeremias Langa, said that a survey carried out in 10 institutions shows that the Health Ministry provides relevant and useful public information, especially regarding Covid-19 pandemic, HIV/AIDS and other diseases.

“On its webpage there are relevant documents such as budgets and expenses, organic statute, programmes and policies, and it is also well organised and user friendly. It provides updated statistical data, with emphasis on Covid-19 cases, deaths, recovered and hospitalised patients,” he noted.

However, Langa added, although the Health Ministry has managed to reach 31 points out of 40 recommended, there is still room for improvement.

“There are good steps taken by the Health Ministry, namely making information available and we need to bring these results to encourage other institutions to realise the importance of doing the same. It is not all, but sets a good example for other institutions”, he stressed.

On the other hand, he regrets that a significant number of civil servants are still uncomfortable with Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), which hinders access to information in public institutions.

“If civil servants are unable to use ICTs to make information available to citizens, it will be difficult for us to access that information. Therefore, there is a combination of efforts that must be made the sooner possible to allow people to access that information″, he recommended.

Langa believes that access to information should be made available by using all digital platforms, which citizens can access via their mobile phones.

Speaking on behalf of the Mozambican government, the director of the Institute of Geographical Names of Mozambique, José Mahumane, said that universal access to information is a human right and fundamental for development and has a central role in empowering citizens allowing fair debates, providing equal opportunities for all.

″It is a driving force for transparent, responsible and effective governance and paves that way to freedom of expression, cultural and linguistic diversity and participation in public life,” he argued.

For the representative of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Paulo Gomes, ensuring access to information is a top priority and is enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Mozambique.

He assured that UNESCO will continue to support Mozambique’s efforts to enforce this right broadly, to promote access to public information and knowledge and empower citizens to build a better future.

Source: AIM