Maputo, 11 Apr (AIM) – Mozambican President Daniel Chapo has said that the budget for the health sector may be increased in order to respond to the current shortage of medicine and medical equipment that the country is facing.
Health professionals have been demanding improvements in working conditions, including a reliable supply of medicines, and of medical and surgical equipment, fair payment for overtime, food for hospitalized patients, as well as more hospital beds to avoid overcrowding.
In March, the Association of United Mozambican Health Professionals (APSUSM) decided to suspend its nationwide strike after the government scheduled a meeting in order to discuss the matters presented by the health workers.
Chapo announced the need to increase the budget for the health sector during an audience that he granted to Jean Kaseya, director general of the African Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC-Africa), who is in the country to take part in the annual meeting of the International Association of National Public Health Institutes (IANPH), a three-day event taking place in Maputo and bringing together over 60 countries.
“President Chapo’s commitment is to increase the country’s health budget. This is positive. I also told him that the peace he has managed to establish in this country is attracting the attention of the world, in particular attracting funds to Mozambique”, Kaseya said.
According to Kaseya, the meeting with Chapo was aimed at exchanging ideas about the Organization’s continued support for the Mozambican health sector.
Africa CDC is a technical body of the African Union that has endeavored to strengthen the capacity of African countries to deal with public health threats.
“Africa CDC is willing to collaborate with Mozambique’s National Statistics Institute (INE) in order to strengthen the country’s capacity to monitor and respond to public health needs, a partnership that could strengthen health systems for more effective management of health policies”, he said.
(AIM)
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