In many areas, including sub-Saharan Africa, access to healthcare is not a right for many but a privilege of a chosen few. Every day we work with commitment and dedication in 9 countries to promote the universal right to health for all, especially the most vulnerable. From the tireless work of our humanitarian workers on the field to the daily dedication of those in CUAMM’s offices, every achievement is the result of a shared commitment you are also part of. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported CUAMM this year.
Here is a selection of 10 moments from 2024 we have chosen to recall a year of unwavering commitment.
ETHIOPIA
In the northern region of Tigray, devastated by a prolonged internal conflict, we have initiated the reconstruction of Shire Hospital which serves approximately 2 million people, along with five surrounding health centers. Shire Indasilasse is one of the areas most severely affected by the conflict. Widespread looting and destruction have had a profound impact on the delivery of basic services to the population in a region that hosts the highest number of internally displaced persons.
MOZAMBIQUE
The commitment and collaboration with the Catholic University of Mozambique, based in the city of Beira, goes on. This year, several young people made their dream come true and can finally hold a degree in general medicine. For young individuals like Atianete, Hercília, Muaziza, and Victorino, this milestone was achieved thanks to their commitment and dedication and also, with the support of scholarships provided by CUAMM.
IVORY COAST
The urban health center of Anonkoua Kouté is located in Abobo, the most populous district in the country. At this center, which handles 3,700 deliveries per year, we inaugurated a new maternity ward. This initiative aims to fulfill one of the objectives of the national health strategic plan: ensuring free and semi-free access to healthcare across the country.
ANGOLA
A comprehensive program where health, environment, and community empowerment come together as one. The Clean Cooking initiative, launched in the province of Uige, aims to introduce improved cooking methods to mitigate the harmful effects of traditional practices, such as respiratory diseases, deforestation, and social exclusion, to name a few. This intervention will involve 16 municipalities and approximately 200,000 families.
SIERRA LEONE
New, larger, and more functional premises have been inaugurated at the Princess Christian Maternal Hospital (PCMH) in Freetown. In October, together with the Minister of Health, we opened the doors to a new outpatient department and a renovated pharmacy for this hospital, which serves over 1.3 million people.
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
An area with 200,000 people and a 120-bed hospital eight hours of driving away from the capital, Bangui. Here, with the construction of the new maternity ward at the Bossangoa hospital, CUAMM’s commitment in the country resumes, amid a context of significant internal instability marked by conflict and armed violence.
TANZANIA
The United Nations Inter-Agency Task Force on the Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases has awarded Doctors with Africa CUAMM the Task Force Awards 2024 for its commitment to improving health outcomes in rural areas of Tanzania.
SOUTH SUDAN
Adior, in Lakes State, about an hour’s drive from Yirol. In the health center of this small town, where only ruined buildings stood three years ago, there is now a maternity ward. We inaugurated it in July, celebrating the event with the Minister of Health and the entire community.
UGANDA
The new neonatal intensive care unit was inaugurated in Matany, Karamoja. This region, the poorest in the country, records an average of 550 perinatal deaths annually, including 160 neonatal deaths, many of which are preventable. The construction of this new unit comes after the interventions already carried out in support of three other hospitals in the region.
ITALY
CUAMM has been awarded the “Antonio Feltrinelli 2024” Prize by the Accademia dei Lincei for an exceptional initiative of high moral and humanitarian value. Also known as the “Italian Nobel,” the prize was presented in the presence of the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, and will support the significant program “Mothers and Children First.”
