Categoria: News

Training FBOs on leadership, management & governance

Posted on by Redazione Cuamm

A three-day training course designed to strengthen leadership, management, and governance skills among Catholic Sister health professionals has just come to an end in Wolisso, Ethiopia. The intensive program, tailored for those working in the health sector, aims to equip participants with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to lead and govern health systems more effectively.

In Ethiopia, as in many African countries, FBOs are crucial in delivering quality health services to the most vulnerable populations. Often located in the last mile, FBOs are frequently on the front lines of service delivery. They maintain close contact with local communities and are well-positioned to recognize and address the real needs of the poorest, often delivering services in remote areas. However, FBOs are frequently overlooked when it comes to supplies, human resources, and funding. Additionally, they may lack formal education and the necessary competencies to manage and lead health facilities effectively.

The St. Luke Hospital in Wolisso, where the training was hosted is indeed a model in terms of management and service provision. Since its inauguration in 2000, CUAMM has been supporting this Catholic Hospital which to date stands as a point of reference for the surrounding districts of Goro, Wolisso, and Wonchi.

The course brought together 34 Catholic Sister professionals from 14 zones across three different regions — Central Ethiopia Region, Oromia, and Tigray — identified by CUAMM through an extensive mapping process. Participants included Sisters from various Faith-Based Organizations (FBOs), serving in diverse roles such as managers, nurses, and health assistants, and working in health posts, health centres, and general hospitals. On this occasion, Ethiopian Bishop Lukas Fikre, CUAMM Director General Father Dante Carraro, and the Bishop of Padua and CUAMM President, Claudio Cipolla, visited the training to personally congratulate the participants for their unwavering commitment to health promotion.

The meeting offered an engaging learning experience focused on strengthening health systems and improving service delivery across Ethiopia. Through interactive presentations, group-based learning, personal reflection, project work, and guided portfolio development, participants explored key concepts such as Ethiopia’s healthcare environment, policies, strategies, and reforms; leadership and management practices; good governance in health programs and institutions and resource management.

To ensure maximum impact, the training included both formative and summative evaluations. Daily feedback, group exercises, and reflective activities helped assess ongoing learning. A final assessment — made up of a post-test (35%) and a team-based project (65%) — was offered to ensure participants had left with practical, applicable skills.

The course, offered by CUAMM with the financial support of Conrad Hilton Foundation represents a critical investment in building the capacity of Catholic health professionals to lead more effectively, manage resources efficiently, and strengthen health service governance across Ethiopia.

 

DISCOVER WHAT WE ARE DOING WITH FBOS ACROSS AFRICA

 

A new blood bank for Karamoja

Posted on by Redazione Cuamm

A groundbreaking ceremony was held yesterday 23rd July, 2025 at Moroto Regional Referral Hospital to mark the beginning of construction works for a new blood bank, a critical infrastructure project aimed at improving access to safe blood in the Karamoja sub-region. The project is being implemented by Doctors with Africa CUAMM, with funding support from the Embassy of Ireland in Uganda. This was in an event officiated by the Ambassador of Ireland to Uganda H. E. Kevin Colgan. Other dignitaries in presence were the Director of Health Services at the Ministry of Health in Uganda, Dr Okware Joseph, CUAMM Country Representative Dr Peter Lochoro, the hospital administration, representatives from the Uganda Blood Transfusion Services, Moroto district officials among others.

The construction of the blood bank comes as part of a broader initiative to strengthen health systems in underserved regions by CUAMM. Once completed, the facility will ensure timely availability of safe blood for patients in need, especially mothers experiencing complications during pregnancy and childbirth.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr. Peter Lochoro, Country Representative of Doctors with Africa CUAMM, emphasized the importance of the facility:

“This blood bank is a culmination of a number of efforts tracking the pain gaps in Karamoja. With this, Moroto Regional Referral Hospital is increasing their rightful roles as a regional referral hospital. He recognized the district leadership of Moroto district for the warm relationship with donors and partners like CUAMM hence the good results that are being witnessed. He also appreciated the support from the Embassy of Ireland that has made all this possible through their generous funding.”

Dr Peter noted that with the initial blood collection, storage and distribution center, over 6600 people had been transfused in one year compared to the baseline of 5200 people. A 110% increase in transfusions for mothers who needed blood during pregnancy or delivery had also been noted reducing maternal death from 29 to 20 people in one year.

The Ambassador H. E. Kevin Colgan of the Embassy of Ireland also remarked:

“Access to safe, timely blood transfusion services is one of the most critical and too often overlooked components of an effective health system. It can mean the difference between life and death for a mother suffering postpartum haemorrhage, a child with severe anaemia or a trauma victim in urgent need of care. For a longtime, the lack of blood storage and supply capacity in Karamoja has limited the region’s ability to save lives. Today, we take an important step forward. This new blood bank will help ensure that life-saving blood is available when and where it is needed most. It is a symbol of hope and resilience for this region, and a major milestone in our shared journey towards equitable health care for all.”

He added that the Embassy was proud to support the new blood bank as part of that vision. To him, it is their belief that every mother deserves a safe birth, every child deserves a healthy start in life, and every health worker deserves the tools to provide quality care. The hospital administration and the district leadership welcomed the initiative, noting that the facility will help reduce maternal and child mortality rates and improve emergency response capacity in Karamoja. Previously, the region has struggled with frequent blood shortages, leading to preventable deaths and pledging their full support to ensure full utilization.

The 1.8 billion blood bank will include cold storage units, screening and processing laboratories, and donor facilities. Construction is expected to be completed within the next 5 months, and the facility will be staffed by trained personnel from the Ministry of Health with ongoing technical support from CUAMM.

In addition to the construction of the blood bank, a 200 million mothers’ waiting shelter will also be constructed. This facility will accommodate mothers whose babies are admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, offering them shelter and dignity in place of the hospital verandas where they currently wait.

The groundbreaking for both facilities represents a major milestone in the journey toward a healthier Karamoja. As stakeholders reaffirm their commitment to sustainable healthcare, these projects stand as a testament to the power of effective partnerships between government, international donors, and implementing organizations in improving health outcomes in the region.

 

CUAMM Awarded in China the Study on Health, Behavior, and Climate Change

Posted on by Redazione Cuamm

The International Conference on Climate Leadership concluded yesterday in Harbin, China, where Doctors with Africa CUAMM received the Best Paper Award for presenting a study protocol investigating the effectiveness of interventions aimed at preventing infectious diseases linked to climate change—such as malaria and cholera—in the most vulnerable provinces of Mozambique. The study, carried out in collaboration with UNICEF, was recognized among the best presentations of the conference for its scientific rigor, methodological innovation, and global relevance.

Climate change is a real emergency: in Mozambique alone, starting in 2019, cyclones Idai, Kenneth, Guambe, Freddy, and Chido have impacted the lives of more than three million people, destroyed 360,000 homes, displaced over 60,000 families, and caused 42,000 cases of malaria and 20,000 cases of cholera. This, despite the fact that the country contributes less than 0.01% of the world’s cumulative CO₂ emissions from the burning of oil, coal, and natural gas.

In this context, from 2022 to 2024, Doctors with Africa CUAMM, in collaboration with UNICEF, implemented the Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) intervention “Familia Modelo”, aimed at promoting low-cost preventive practices in response to the growing risk of waterborne and vector-borne infectious diseases among communities most exposed and vulnerable to the consequences of extreme climate events.

“Our previous experience provided us with valuable baseline data, highlighting the need for a multidisciplinary approach to understand such complex phenomena and to implement concrete, effective interventions—especially in a context that is increasingly vulnerable to health crises caused by climate change,” explains Edoardo Occa, author of the study and CUAMM community health expert.

In fact, the first published study showed that the intervention led to a significant improvement in prevention behaviors: a 58% increase in proper hand hygiene and a 50% increase in the collection and safe storage of water. From the fruitful collaboration with UNICEF Global and UNICEF Mozambique, a study protocol was developed and presented at the International Conference on Climate Leadership (July 21–22, 2025, Harbin, China), organized by University College London. The conference brought together scholars from over 30 countries to address climate change through an interdisciplinary lens, including topics from health, urban planning, and policymaking.

“The study is a randomized controlled trial involving 3 provinces (Cabo Delgado, Nampula, and Zambezia), 76 villages, and over 3,000 families. The main goal is to evaluate the effectiveness of the SBC intervention in reducing the incidence of acute watery diarrhea (AWD), while also considering modifying factors related to extreme weather events. Comparing the intervention group with a control group not exposed to the intervention will provide a robust study design that will also reflect the impact of climate change on communities,” explains Francesco Segala, study author and CUAMM project manager in Mozambique, who presented the protocol to the conference audience.

The intervention includes community radio broadcasts, theatrical performances, the involvement of religious and traditional leaders, and public recognition of “model families,” to foster a supportive social environment for the collective adoption of preventive behaviors.

The evaluation will rely on surveys, direct observation, and local clinical surveillance data, also integrating climate-related variables. This will allow researchers—through statistical modeling and behavioral science—to assess whether the intervention’s effectiveness varies in villages affected by extreme weather events such as cyclones and tropical storms. This is a crucial element for adapting prevention strategies to the new risks imposed by climate change.

“Having this work recognized in such a prestigious international setting is a major achievement for CUAMM, which has long been committed to research—building scientific evidence in the most challenging contexts and generating value through direct fieldwork with communities. We brought the voices of the most vulnerable communities—those who pay the price of a climate crisis driven by fossil fuel overuse—to the attention of experts and academia,” comments Giovanni Putoto, CUAMM Head of Programming and Operational Research.

CUAMM has contributed a vital perspective on the Global South and vulnerable populations, and the award represents an important acknowledgment of the role the organization can and must play in terms of climate leadership.

 

Leave No One Behind CUAMM in Apulia

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It is in the Capitanata area, a district in the province of Foggia, that Doctors with Africa CUAMM is renewing its commitment in Apulia. Quietly launched in 2015 by the local group Doctors with Africa CUAMM Bari, the proximity-based healthcare intervention, carried out as part of the Su.Pr.Eme 2 project, focuses on providing healthcare to marginalized groups—mainly seasonal and migrant agricultural workers — living in informal settlements such as Casa Sankara and Arena. The initiative has since expanded to the municipalities of Nardò (LE), Turi (BA), and Terlizzi (BAT), with seasonal activities.

The Apulia region hosts approximately 138,000 foreign nationals, most of whom reside in the provinces of Bari and Foggia, where agriculture is the predominant economic activity. The local agri-food industry relies heavily on the contributions of seasonal and migrant workers to meet the demands of planting, harvesting, and processing crops. They work long hours in the fields and live on the fringes of society in informal settlements located outside urban centers. These settlements vary in size depending on geography and season, with peaks in population during the summer months when over 6,000 people are estimated to arrive for the harvest. Some agricultural workers remain there year-round due to the lack of alternative housing, living in extremely precarious conditions in what are commonly referred to as “ghettos.”

Although we dislike the term, the image of isolation and marginalization it conveys is unfortunately very true. These are often squatted buildings, farmhouses, or shantytowns where migrant workers live in a state of constant social, economic, and health exclusion. While some more organized environments exist—like the Boncuri guesthouse near Nardò—the condition of marginalization remains a constant.

“The living conditions of these people have a significant impact on their health,” said Lucia Raho, CUAMM Medical Coordinator. “Even in the more dignified settings, like the Boncuri guesthouse, living conditions are far from ideal for many reasons, and this ultimately affects their health.”

CUAMM’s work

CUAMM’s ongoing commitment in the province of Foggia, and its seasonal work in the municipalities of Nardò (LE), Turi (BA), and Terlizzi (BAT), is a proximity-based healthcare initiative aimed at ensuring access to primary services for migrant populations. In collaboration with AReSS, the Apulia Region, and local health authorities (ASLs), these efforts seek to improve access to local services for vulnerable groups, with a focus on social inclusion.

“I remember the first time I visited these areas,” said Lucia Raho. “I had been working in a hospital for years, and with other volunteer doctors from CUAMM Bari, we decided to bring some basic equipment and see for ourselves what the situation was and what the most urgent needs might be. What I saw didn’t seem real—I couldn’t believe that just around the corner, in my own city, people were living in such conditions.”

The Cuamm medical teams encounter a wide range of issues, often worsened by the lack of timely medical intervention. Among those treated, cases of diabetes, hypertension, muscle pain, and gastrointestinal or dermatological conditions related to poor hygiene are common.

To provide basic medical services, CUAMM’s multidisciplinary teams travel in a mobile clinic to reach informal settlements in the province of Foggia, as well as those in Turi, Terlizzi, and the Boncuri guesthouse in Nardò.

“Providing proximity-based care means having doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, and volunteers assisting patients and referring them to the national healthcare system when necessary,” said Andrea Atzori, Head of International Relations. “Through our work in Apulia, CUAMM aims to support migrants, especially seasonal workers who are vulnerable to exploitation and at high risk of being subjected to illegal labor practices.”

 

Barriers to Healthcare Access

In the informal settlements of Apulia where CUAMM operates, only 8% of people have a general practitioner. For most, proximity-based care is their only access point to healthcare.

“What we do—thanks also to close collaboration with social workers—is build a bridge between the healthcare system and marginalized communities who face language barriers, prejudice, and stereotypes,” said Cesare De Vergilio, community doctor and CUAMM volunteer.

Social, economic, and health-related isolation affects not only seasonal migrant workers but also people experiencing homelessness and members of the Roma and Sinti communities. With financial support from the Department of Welfare of the Municipality of Bari, Doctors with Africa CUAMM, in collaboration with the Caps social cooperative and Psychologists for the People, is also working in the Roma and Sinti settlement of Japigia. There, a Proximity Socio-Health Center is active, offering prevention, counseling, and care services to members of the community and other marginalized groups, including homeless individuals in the municipality of Bari.

“Healthcare access is a challenge for the Roma and Sinti people living in this settlement. Most of them lack regular documents, and only a few have a health card, so they don’t seek medical care. The outreach unit gives them access to basic services they would otherwise be excluded from, and this is highly appreciated by the entire community,” said Daniel Tomescu, who has been a community liaison for Japigia for 25 years.

While our work continues steadily in nine sub-Saharan African countries, our mission in Apulia is a reminder that no one should be left behind and that the right to health, access to care, and human dignity are principles worth defending—principles on which more inclusive and compassionate communities can be built.

CUAMM’s interventions in Apulia—specifically in the provinces of Foggia, Bari, and Barletta-Andria-Trani—are carried out as part of the Su.Pr.Eme. project, a five-year multi-fund program financed by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies through the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (FAMI) 2021–2027, in synergy with the National Inclusion Plan 2021–2027.

The fight against malnutrition starts with the community

Posted on by Redazione Cuamm

In Angola, in the heart of the municipalities of Ombadja and Cahama, health and nutrition are not just goals to be achieved, but represent a commitment that grows from the grassroots.
Doctors with Africa Cuamm knows this well, as since November 2023, it has been carrying out the “START” project, an initiative funded by the European Union and implemented in collaboration with Codespa and Adespov.

The goal is ambitious but concrete: to strengthen the nutritional status of vulnerable women and children through the empowerment of civil society and the promotion of gender equality. To date, there are already 20 Civil Society Organizations involved in a process of training and growth to become protagonists of change in their own territory.

But what does it mean, in practice, to “build community”? Telling us are the members of the youth association Amigos do bem Aja bem, who have seen firsthand the daily challenges of local healthcare. “On October 18, we were received at the Ombadjia Municipal Hospital by the municipal nutrition manager, Indira Kativa, and a team of nurses. We saw the reality of our brothers and sisters hospitalized for malnutrition. 22 children hospitalized: 14 in the Emergency Unit and 8 in Pediatrics.”

From listening, action was born. It is not just about large structural interventions, but about human closeness and daily support. The young people of the association decided not to stand by, transforming their sensitivity into tangible help for local health facilities. “After the visit, we offered our support, becoming godparents of the municipal hospital and the Okaimo maternal-infant center, to carry forward together the fight against malnutrition. We offered to take charge of basic necessities such as disposable diapers, detergent, and soap. Every seven days, we distribute soup to the patients and their families. We were well received and they motivated us to continue working for the children and their recovery.”

The fight against malnutrition is more effective thanks to the support and closeness of the community. “We will continue our commitment with faith, love, and a lot of hope. Together we are stronger. Helping others is not a burden! It is an honor,” concluded the young people of Amigos do bem.

A inner dedication to health and human resources

Posted on by Redazione Cuamm

He has been working with CUAMM for 7 years — all of them spent in South Sudan, one of the most challenging countries with increasingly complex issues. Dr. Olumide Salawu is the new South Sudan Country Manager and coordinates CUAMM’s operations from Juba. A 43-year-old surgeon with extensive experience in various contexts and fields, today he feels he is in the right place. He sees a clear path ahead and, above all, has the desire to face it, putting himself out there both as a man and as a doctor.

Born in Nigeria, he first served in Sierra Leone to later move to South Sudan where he got to know CUAMM and the activities we carry out in the country, including support to 4 hospitals, 66 primary healthcare facilities, and 2 training schools for midwives and nurses. In addition, the latest commitment to serving mothers and children with a emergency referral system in Lakes State.

“I first heard about CUAMM in 2014, when I was working with the African Union on the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Later, I worked at the Princess Christian Maternity Hospital as a medical consultant for the World Bank, and that’s where I met CUAMM doctors in person. What struck me the most was their dedication and commitment, especially in patient care. It was a holistic approach to healthcare. And I thought to myself: if people who are not originally from Africa show such enthusiasm in caring for us Africans, then I should do my part too. So, when the opportunity came, I accepted immediately. Between Sierra Leone and South Sudan, I chose the latter because I felt I had already given a lot in Sierra Leone and wanted to discover another part of Africa. I was enthusiastic and determined to succeed. And I believe it was exactly this motivation, along with my passion for health and people, that helped me through the initial difficulties of adjusting to a new country.” Said Dr. Olumide Salawu – CUAMM Country Manager in South Sudan.

He arrived in South Sudan in July 2019 and first worked at Cueibet Hospital as a surgeon and project manager. At the time, he was the only doctor in the county.

“I worked with excellent staff — midwives, pediatricians, and other surgeons. I also collaborated with a surgeon, Dr. Enzo, who was in Rumbek at the time,” he recalled.

Later, he was transferred to Rumbek as hospital coordinator, taking on the management of a larger hospital with more responsibilities. After his hospital work, he was tasked with coordinating public health activities in Rumbek’s five counties. For the past few months, he has held the role of Country Manager.

“I believe one of CUAMM’s strengths is its investment in the growth of human resources, which helps ensure continuity of intervention and strengthen the health system,” said Dr. Olumide Salawu. “Too many and constant changes make it difficult to build and maintain a consistent approach. But with people who truly understand the system, you can make it grow. For me, moving from clinical work to public health and management has been a huge achievement — one I’m grateful to CUAMM for. Today, healthcare requires a holistic approach. If we’re talking about clinical care, I can contribute. If it’s about management, I can too. The same goes for public health, leadership, and governance. This journey has helped me grow, become more professional and skilled, and contribute to the overall development.”

Reflecting on present challenges and future perspectives in the country he now calls home, Dr. Olumide Salawu seems to be confident yet realistic:

“South Sudan is a very young country — the youngest in Africa — but at the moment, the situation is calm. People are going about their daily lives, especially in Juba. Of course, you can’t ignore the clashes, often due to cattle raids, which here are a cultural issue. There are some tensions in areas like Unity State, in Nasir, where there are still clashes between opposition forces and the government. But everything is under control. Over time, I’ve come to understand the dynamics, the politics, the entire health system of the country, and how to navigate it.”

URC2025 Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome

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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.

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.