Mozambique: Italy pledges five million Euros to prevent non-communicable diseases

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Mozambique: Italy pledges five million Euros to prevent non-communicable diseases

8:54 CAT | 08 May 2024

Photo: Agenzia Italiana per la Cooperazione allo Sviluppo - Sede di Maputo

The Italian government, through its Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS), will disburse five million Euros (5.3 million US dollars, at the current exchange rate) over the next three years for the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases in Mozambique.

The funding will strengthen the activities of the Health Ministry and will focus on the central provinces of Sofala and Zambézia, and on Maputo city and province.

According to the Italian ambassador to Mozambique, Gianni Bardini, who was speaking on Monday, in Maputo, at the launch of the “Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases Project” channelling these funds is extremely important for the early identification and treatment of non-communicable diseases.

“It’s a very comprehensive project. First, it will help provide equipment, including laboratory equipment and medicines. The second point is training at various levels, and the third point is screening, which makes it possible to identify diseases and intervene at an early stage”, he said.

He said that the funds will also contribute to awareness-raising activities and to deepening the connection between disabilities and non-communicable diseases.

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For his part, Health Minister Armindo Tiago said Italy’s role in the fight against non-communicable diseases will be notable and crucial for the prevention of many diseases.

“The Italian Agency for Development Cooperation has played its part by supporting the Health Ministry in reducing morbidity and mortality from non-communicable diseases, by strengthening the capacity for surveillance, prevention, the supply of diagnostic means as well as support for the purchase and distribution of medicines”, he said.

“We are convinced that this programme, combined with the efforts undertaken by the Ministry of Health, will strengthen the sector’s capacity to increase access to services for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of non-communicable diseases”, he added.

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Tiago also called on health managers at provincial and district level to commit to implementing the project and ensure that it contributes to further gains in the population’s health indicators.

The Project will initially be implemented in around 20 health units, seven in Zambézia province, seven in Sofala and six in Maputo.

On the occasion, the minister revealed that about over 13 million people, which corresponds to 40 per cent of the Mozambican population, suffer from high blood pressure.

“The prevalence of hypertension in Mozambique is among the highest in developing countries, estimated at around 40 per cent, varying according to age group”, he said.

He also said that data from studies carried out in 2015 indicate that the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in the country is over seven per cent.

“Among people aged between 15 and 49, cancer already represents the third leading cause of death, eight percent of deaths, according to data from Life Events and Causes of Death Surveillance System (COMSA)”, Tiago said.

Source: AIM