Autore: Redazione Cuamm

URC2025 Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome

Posted on by Redazione Cuamm

The fourth Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC2025) has just come to an end and we are glad to have taken part in it. The conference, held at the La Nuvola Convention Centre in Rome on 10 and 11 July 2025 sought to maintain international focus on Ukraine’s recovery and mobilize investment and support as the conflict continues.

In collaboration with AVSI, Comunità di Sant’Egidio, FOCSIV, VIS, WeWorld we participated in and collaborated to the side event Empowered Ukraine: restarting from human capital. For a renewed partnership between civil society, private sector and institutions promoted by Caritas Italiana and hosted on July 9th. The event aimed to highlight one of the key pillars of Ukraine’s reconstruction: human capital. While rebuilding infrastructure—such as schools, hospitals, and roads—and reviving the economy were essential, equal importance was placed on protecting people and supporting communities, both vulnerable and resilient.

The event emphasized the need to listen to and respond to the concrete needs of individuals, recognizing that sustainable recovery depends on their well-being. This could only be achieved through strong partnerships among civil society, the private sector, and institutions.

By bringing together diverse stakeholders—the event fostered dialogue and drew attention to the central role of human capital, showcasing scalable projects and good practices for lasting impact.

URC2025 is a global gathering committed to Ukraine’s reconstruction. This year, it brought together nearly 5,000 participants including over 100 national delegations, representatives from international organizations and financial institutions, private sector actors, local authorities, and civil society groups. Hosts and speakers included Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, with other high-level leaders from Germany, Poland, Greece, and beyond.

URC2025 focused on four thematic dimensions: Business Dimension, Human Dimension, Local & Regional Dimension, and EU Dimension. The conference emphasized private sector partnerships, human capital, local governance, municipal recovery, and alignment with EU standards. Crosscutting themes included macroeconomic stability, healthcare, green recovery, and governance reform, all central to Ukraine’s path to long-term resilience and EU accession.

CUAMM first launched its intervention in Ukraine in 2022. Since then, we have been committed to ensuring access to care for all by building a model that combines local partnerships, humanitarian principles, and sustainable development frameworks. We are achieving this by working with local actors to implement health sector recovery plans rooted in equity, inclusivity, and long-term resilience.

Find out more on what we are doing in Ukraine

 

Breaking barriers for inclusion a step forward

Posted on by Redazione Cuamm

Disability is still, far too often, a taboo subject. Yet it is not a disease but a condition and so it must be considered by the most. Sometimes, all it takes is awareness. Awareness to break myths, to fight stigma, to unlock doors.

In recent years, the global conversation on disability has grown louder. In 2018, the United Nations adopted the “Disability Inclusion Strategy” aimed at ensuring the rights of persons with disabilities and eliminating the inequalities and discrimination they face—especially in accessing healthcare.

While these challenges are widely known in Europe, their scale in LICs contexts remains too often unnoticed.

As a med resident in Mozambique, I am beyond thrilled to be part of a team working on a project that perfectly fits in my personal and professional life. Inclu.de 2 – Inclusion for Development: Breaking Barriers in Healthcare is an initiative funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) that exemplifies CUAMM’s commitment to improving the lives of the most vulnerable groups.

This project, grounded in a human rights approach, focuses on providing inclusive, quality rehabilitation services for people with disabilities. Across Africa, persons who live with disabilities face daily barriers: inaccessible roads and buildings, lack of transportation, limited access to education and healthcare, and deeply rooted cultural stigma.

A significant milestone was reached in June 2024, when Mozambique approved a law known as Lei 10/2024, aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the African Union Disability Protocol. Despite the adoption of this new law, implementing the legislation is to date the main challenge.

Article 22 of the law guarantees the right to healthcare for persons with disabilities, prioritizing access to medical services and rehabilitation. Yet, many health centers lack proper equipment and trained staff to offer these services. Inclu.de 2 is working to change that.

Since August 2024, CUAMM and local partners have been conducting field assessments across Maputo province to identify gaps and begin targeted interventions.

“In the past months, I had the privilege of joining a donor field visit to two healthcare centers—Moamba and Sabie—where some of these barriers were painfully evident. – said Marise Sabato. –

The road to Moamba was barely passable, riddled with potholes, completely unsuitable for wheelchair users. Not to mention the impossibility for people with mobility impairments to access public transport”.

Every month, some 400 patients seek rehabilitation services in this facilities, but equipment is outdated, and structural barriers—like narrow doorways—limit access. Sabie, on the other hand, lacks a rehabilitation space entirely, forcing patients to travel to Moamba.

“Despite the challenges, I was encouraged by the strong collaboration with local stakeholders who recognize the urgency of inclusion and the opportunity this new law presents” said Marise Sabato.

Difficulties in accessing care jeopardize the impact of rehabilitation services, as counted by Salita who has been attending physiotherapy in Moamba healthcentre for more than a year.

“When it rains, there is no transport which means that in no way can a person living with disability like me reach the healthcentre for the therapy session. In addition, equipment is scarse. I keep going despite the difficulties but I need a bike for my rehab, and there isn’t one.”

Still, she praised the dedication of the health staff, noting how they reach out when she misses a session.

“They do their best. I’ve seen people come here unable to walk and now they can. They even call to check on me if I don’t show up.”

These are the stories that drive our work.

CUAMM has been present in Mozambique since 1978, serving “the last mile,” where health services are hardest to reach. Through Inclu.de 2, CUAMM is not just delivering services—but building capacity. Training health workers and community activists in how to communicate and care for people with disabilities is a key part of our strategy.

Whether it’s teaching health workers how to interact respectfully with patients who are deaf—using sign language apps—or equipping community leaders to combat stigma and raise awareness, our aim is to dismantle not just physical but social and cultural barriers.

And this is where inclusion begins: with understanding.

“For me, this is a personal mission. I live with a disability myself, which makes me even more attuned to the daily challenges faced by people here. This project has allowed me to grow not only as a public health professional, but as a person.

Working on Inclu.de 2 from its early stages, I’ve gained invaluable experience in project planning, leadership, advocacy, and local partnership building. I’ve learned that effective collaboration is key to sustainability—and that while implementing a project is never easy, especially in resource-limited settings, every small win counts.
With good planning and a committed team, deadlines become milestones, and challenges turn into achievements.

Mozambique is teaching me so much—about resilience, about equity, and about how change happens. Slowly, and together”.

Graduation ceremony in Wolisso

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“Every time you care for someone without prejudice, every time you treat a patient with dignity—regardless of their origin, religion, or story—you are building peace.

You are resisting the forces that divide and destroy.

Your every action — a dressing, a comfort, a presence — is a small work of peace, which opposes disinterest, indifference, the invisible violence of loneliness.”

The hall of the School of Nursing and Midwifery at St. Luke’s Hospital in Wolisso was full on Saturday, June 28 on the occasion of the 22nd graduation ceremony. Flavio Bobbio— CUAMM doctor and director of the hospital—addressed the gathered students, who were celebrating together with their proud families and behind his Excellency Bishop Lukas Fikre. reminding them that “healing often begins where compassion lives.”

Because yes, providing care requires skill, professionalism, and precision, but choosing this profession also means embracing a calling—and today in Wolisso, 59 students are celebrating that choice. There are 24 midwifery students and 35 nursing students who, after two years of study, receive their diplomas and become qualified and competent healthcare professionals.

“For the first time since the opening of the college, all the students enrolled passed the exam and got their Certificate of Competence – COC. This is not only a success for the students but also a great achievement for the school itself” said Flavio Bobbio.

For many of them who left home to move here and study with commitment and dedication under the guidance of Selamawit Tamirat Tefera – school director, this school felt like home. In the classrooms and hospital corridors, they have grown both professionally and personally. They have focused on theoretical knowledge, challenged themselves in labs, and gained clinical experience by working alongside the hospital staff and CUAMM doctors. It has been a full immersion into the profession and the work of caregiving, which is “a radical and powerful act,” when carried out with humanity, as Flavio underlined in his speech.

The Nursing and Midwifery School in Wolisso opened its doors to students from various regions of the country in 2000, the same year the hospital itself was inaugurated. Since then, Doctors with Africa CUAMM has provided continuous support. Over the past ten years, our commitment has been strengthened by a valuable collaboration with Women Hope International NGO—an organization with which we share the mission of training health professionals. Together, we continue to train future healthcare workers, thereby increasing the number of qualified professionals in the country.

Indeed, the shortage of professionals is one of the major challenges affecting the Ethiopian healthcare system at all levels. The number of medical specialists in the country is vastly insufficient, and in this context, qualified healthcare professionals are essential to ensure the delivery of services. Year after year, the school helps to slowly fill a gap: as of 2022, Ethiopia was far from reaching the WHO target of 2.3 healthcare workers per 1,000 inhabitants by 2025, with an average of only 0.7 midwives and nurses per 1,000 people.

To date, 920 healthcare workers including midwives and nurses have graduated at St. Luke College in Wolisso.

Each year, around 60 students enroll at this institution—recognized by the Ethiopian Ministry of Health and part of the professional school network of the Oromia Region. These are students ready to assist, to listen, and to build peace through the work of care.

Tender invitation for Supply of visibility materials with message printing

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Doctors with Africa CUAMM, a consortium with CBM and Rado under the project titled ”INCLUSIVE – Strengthening prevention, equitable and inclusive care for all AID012590/06/09,” is launching a simplified  procedure to select eligible Suppliers for the supply of visibility materials with message printing in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

01 Invitation form

02 Contract notice

03 Instructions to bidders

ANNEX I – Tender Form

Annex Ia – Declaration of Honour

Annex II & III Technical_Specifications_and_Technical_Offer

Annex IV – Legal Identity form

Annex V – Financial Identification

Annex VI – Financial offer

Annex VII – Administrative Compliance Grid

Annex VIII – Evaluation Grid

Annex IX – Contract Form

Annex X – Special Conditions

Annex XI – General Conditions for Service Contracts

Annex XII – Checklist

Tender invitation for Supply of visibility materials with message printing

Posted on by Redazione Cuamm

Doctors with Africa CUAMM, a consortium with CBM and Rado under the project titled ”INCLUSIVE – Strengthening prevention, equitable and inclusive care for all AID012590/06/09,” is launching a simplified  procedure to select eligible Suppliers for the supply of visibility materials with message printing in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

01 Invitation form

02 Contract notice

03 Instructions to bidders

ANNEX I – Tender Form

Annex Ia – Declaration of Honour

Annex II & III Technical_Specifications_and_Technical_Offer

Annex IV – Legal Identity form

Annex V – Financial Identification

Annex VI – Financial offer

Annex VII – Administrative Compliance Grid

Annex VIII – Evaluation Grid

Annex IX – Contract Form

Annex X – Special Conditions

Annex XI – General Conditions for Service Contracts

Annex XII – Checklist

Tender for Supply of food items

Posted on by Redazione Cuamm
Doctors with Africa CUAMM, under the project titled “Restoration of Essential Health and Nutrition Services in Shire, Tigray AID 05/12882/ETH,” is launching a simplified procedure to select a supplier for the supply of food items in Shire town, Tigray Region, Ethiopia.

01 Invitation form

02 Contract notice

03 Instructions to bidders

Annex I – Tender Form
Annex Ia – Declaration of Honour
Annex II & III Technical_Specifications_and_Technical_Offer
Annex IV – Legal Identity form
Annex V – Financial Identification
 Annex VI – Financial offer
Annex VII – Administrative Compliance Grid
Annex VIII – Evaluation Grid
Annex IX – Contract Form
Annex X – Special Conditions
Annex XI – General Conditions for Service Contracts
Annex XII – Checklist

Tender for Supply of Food Items

Posted on by Redazione Cuamm
Doctors with Africa CUAMM, under the project titled “Multi- ectoral intervention to improve access to health of vulnerable community in Hamer district – (Project – IMPACT) – AID12669” is launching a simplified procedure to select a supplier for the supply of food items in South OMO zone, Hammer Woreda, Dimeka Town.
01 Invitation form
02 Contract notice
03 Instructions to bidders
Annex I – Tender Form
Annex Ia – Declaration of Honour
Annex II & III Technical_Specifications_and_Technical_Offer
Annex IV – Legal Identity form
Annex V – Financial Identification
Annex VI – Financial offer
Annex VII – Administrative Compliance Grid
Annex VIII – Evaluation Grid
Annex IX – Contract Form
Annex X – Special Conditions
Annex XI – General Conditions for Service Contracts
Annex XII – Checklist

Chiulo renovated spaces reinvigorate care

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Laboratory, delivery room, theatre room and radiology have been renovated and equipped to continue providing quality services to mothers and children.

A official ceremony was held in Chiulo yesterday to cut the ribbon and mark a new beginning for the Hospital, which now counts on renewed and more functional spaces thanks to the intervention carried out by CUAMM with the support of ANPG, Azule Energy and partners from Bloco 15/06 namely Sonangol and Sinopec, as part of the project “Supporting Chiulo Hospital and evaluating nutrition interventions in the south of Angola.”

Yesterday, June 25, we gathered at Chiulo Hospital for an official inauguration ceremony attended by His Excellency the Bishop of Ondjiva – Father Dom Pio Hipunyati, Father Alexandre – local head of the Chiulo mission, the Board of Chiulo Hospital, Matteo Villa – engineer at Solar Barrel together with local authorities including: the Municipal Administrator – Elizeth Kondjasili Mwamelungi, the Municipal Health Director of Ombadja – Epifânia Ndesiuda, the Municipal Administrator of Humbe – António dos Santos Luepo and the Provincial Director of the Health Department – Dr. Georgina Graciete Nunes,.

“This partnership comes at a good time, at a moment when our hospital is in need of a profound and complete rehabilitation of its physical infrastructure, in order to meet universal standards and offer quality services to its users. I am deeply grateful for the strength and the positive energy of this great gesture of solidarity and humanity. I wish to express a word of recognition to all the hospital’s staff and beneficiaries. In particular, the government of Cunene province is committed to continuing to fulfill its evangelizing and social mission with determination,” said His Most Reverend Excellency Dom Pio Hipunyati, the Bishop of Ondjiva.

The hospital’s laboratory, operating theatre, theatre room, and radiology unit have been renovated and newly equipped with instruments and materials essential for clinical activity. The intervention aimed at improving healthcare services and ensuring quality care for patients – primarily women and children.

“It has been 25 years since CUAMM began its activities at the Chiulo hospital. Today, I would like to express my gratitude to Azule Energy, ANPG, and all those who were involved in the completion of the works including the health authorities and the hospital staff. As CUAMM, we will continue with our commitment to work at the hospital as well as in the communities to care for the most vulnerable: mothers and children,” stated Joaquim Tomas – CUAMM Country Representative.

The renovated and fully equipped laboratory at Chiulo Hospital

Chiulo is a rural hospital located in the heart of the Angolan mato, in Cunene province. The facility has 234 beds but, due to the scarcity of healthcare infrastructure in the province, its actual catchment area extends well beyond the limits of Humbe municipality. In this hospital, even access to running water and electricity is a challenge. Today, thanks to support from Solar Barrel, we inaugurated a new photovoltaic system that will allow the hospital to reduce energy costs and ensure a more sustainable power supply.

“Chiulo Hospital must continue to be a reference unit within our national health system. We are always grateful for the support received in ensuring quality services, although our desire is to keep improving so that this hospital becomes a true center of excellence,” declared Belarmino Felix – Head of the Public Health Department.

CUAMM’s commitment to supporting Chiulo Hospital has remained constant since 2000, the year we signed a memorandum of understandingt with the Diocese of Ondjiva. Since then, we have focused primarily on maternal and child health, first working within the hospital and later enforcing our efforts with community-based activities including mobile clinics and awareness-raising activities. Over the years, we’ve also invested in on-the-job training for local staff and in the upkeep of the maternity waiting home – a safe place for women nearing childbirth, established by CUAMM in 2012 and still operating today. Thanks to the collaboration with ANPG, Azule Energy and partners like Sonangol and Sinopec we are currently deliverying community-based activities focused on nutrition and hygiene and sanitation both in the provinces of Cunene and Namibe.

Twenty-five years since the beginning of our work in this small hospital located in the Angolan mato, we renew our commitment with enthusiasm to improving the health of mothers and children.

 

 

Invitation for Supply of medical drugs, laboratory reagents, consumables, orthopaedic and rehabilitation equipment, antibiotics, mobility aids, home-based rehabilitation materials, and eyeglasses

Posted on by Redazione Cuamm
Doctors with Africa CUAMM, in a consortium with CBM and Rado under the project titled ”INCLUSIVE – Strengthening prevention, equitable and inclusive care for all (AID012590/06/09)”, is launching a Local Open Tender procedure to select eligible suppliers for the supply of medical drugs, laboratory reagents, consumables, orthopaedic and rehabilitation equipment, antibiotics, mobility aids, home-based rehabilitation materials, and eyeglasses in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
01 Invitation form
02 Contract notice
03 Instructions to bidders
Annex I – Tender Form
Annex Ia – Declaration of Honour
Annex II & III Technical_Specifications_and_Technical_Offer_Final
Annex IV – Legal Identity form

Protecting life at birth the importance of nurses

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In Beira, practical training has begun for the 20 nurses participating in the annual professional neonatal nursing course, which started last February, in the province of Sofala in Mozambique. “Formador”, as the tutors are called by the students, “can we discuss a case together? Can you tell me if I’m doing it right?”. Opportunities for discussion and growth are not to be taken for granted for those who have often been accustomed to working without adequate training, alone, in a context where challenges are many.

This is the first course of its kind in Sofala, following an initial year in Maputo. The theoretical training has been completed and the participants have now begun their practical training, which will take place at the Central Hospital in Beira and the Central Hospital in Maputo, particularly in the delivery room and the neonatal unit. This is definitely something innovative because it is the first time that there are nurses in the delivery room dedicated exclusively to newborns.

“You know, Dotora, I did a lot of things before, but I didn’t really know why I was doing them or when it was best to do them. Now I’m prepared, I know what to do and when to do it, so I make informed choices,” said Gracinda, a nurse who has been working in the Berçário at Beira Central Hospital for seven years. Irene Avagnina, a CUAMM paediatrician at Beira Hospital, reports this with satisfaction, recounting the initial feedback received from course participants: “A strong, collaborative team has been created, where people help each other and exchange knowledge and experience. It was essential to make them understand how important they are in the first moments of a newborn’s life, that their service can have a crucial impact! When they successfully resuscitated children or managed to resolve a complex situation, you could clearly see their amazement and gratification at the opportunity to really make a difference.”

A shared commitment to investing in the growth of local human resources, professional training that is part of the project “Strengthening the system of healthcare personnel training institutes and supporting the development of telemedicine”, funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation and implemented with Aispo, the Community of Sant’Egidio and the University of Sassari.

 

“It was important that the Ministry decided to involve staff already in service. This is definitely the key to having a real impact on the healthcare system, giving operators the opportunity to grow. Despite the challenges of implementation, there has been a clear willingness on the part of the Public Institute of Science and Health to take on this commitment and to think of it from the outset as an ongoing and long-term course because it is seen as a concrete opportunity for improvement,” adds Irene. The Institute is still feeling the effects of Cyclone Idai and the economic crisis, but despite this, it remains a national reference point for professional training in nursing.

“On Mozambican Women’s Day, we got together with our colleagues. We stood in a circle, each of us wearing a capulana – a traditional Mozambican fabric worn by women, which has a strong symbolic value. We had to share a wish, the hope that each of us had for this course,‘ concludes Irene. ’At the end, the group sang a song that says: “Those who were afraid to be born, now appreciate life”.