CISM PROMOTES STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS IN THE FIGHT AGAINST HIV/AIDS IN QUELIMANE

To engage organizations and associations working in HIV/AIDS programs in Quelimane, Zambézia Province, the Manhiça Health Research Center (CISM) held an event last Thursday (12) aimed at strengthening partnerships, sharing relevant data, and discussing intervention strategies in the fight against HIV, with a focus on children under 5 years of age and adults aged 18 to 64 in the district, within the framework of the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) study.

During the event, CISM presented CHAMPS data on the HIV situation among children under 5 in Quelimane District, child mortality data, maternal HIV infection, and the study on causes of death in adults (MITADH), which will begin in the coming weeks. In addition to CISM, several organizations implementing HIV response programs in Quelimane District also presented their activities, namely FDC (Community Development Foundation), FGH (Friends in Global Health), and SANTO EGIDIO/DREAM (Community of Sant’Egidio – DREAM Program).

The Director of the District Services of Health, Women and Social Action, Dr. Tomé Charles, who presided over the opening ceremony of the meeting, considered CISM’s initiative to be relevant and stressed the need to make some adjustments to existing initiatives. “It will be necessary to influence political actors and health managers to embrace this initiative. To this end, it must be presented to the health structures in order to adapt it to the existing model. We know that there have been thematic meetings on HIV and other diseases promoted by the health authorities, involving the same participants. Therefore, this initiative should focus on building sectoral and thematic plans involving all actors,” said the Director, adding that meetings like this must deliver tangible results with clear findings and recommendations, including assigning responsibilities to each stakeholder so that progress can be monitored.

Dr. Inácio Mandomando, Principal Investigator of CHAMPS in Mozambique, believes this marks the beginning of the establishment of strategic partnerships between CISM and organizations implementing HIV/AIDS programs, aligned with the “Data to Action” approach of the CHAMPS study, which seeks to translate data into concrete actions, thereby strengthening HIV response interventions. “We are eager to explore the various dimensions of activities being carried out in the field of HIV in the district, including the challenges they pose to public health, the strategies for control and prevention, and the progress made in the fight against the disease,” noted the Principal Investigator.

“Our goal today is to promote a space for learning, exchange of experiences, and strengthening of strategies to tackle HIV/AIDS more effectively in our district. We believe that by joining efforts and sharing knowledge, we can make a significant difference in the lives of affected people and in the community as a whole, through strategies that strengthen interventions and future partnerships,” said Ariel Nhacolo, CISM Coordinator in Quelimane.

Participants, in turn, committed themselves to ensuring that the discussions and decisions made during the meeting will be effectively implemented, promoting a meaningful impact on HIV response strategies and actions in the district.

In Quelimane District, CISM has been continuously operating since 2018, where it leads the Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) project, which aims to study the main causes of death in children under five years of age and in stillbirths, through laboratory analyses of biological samples collected using minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS). Laboratory data are subsequently combined with the clinical history of cases and information from verbal and social autopsies (VASA) for review by a panel of national and international experts (including physicians, microbiologists, epidemiologists, and pediatricians) to discuss and assign the cause of death for each case.

Participating organizations included: CNCS (Provincial Council for the Fight Against HIV), DPS (Provincial Health Directorate – Zambézia), SPS (Provincial Health Services – Zambézia), SDSMAS (District Services of Health, Women and Social Action of Quelimane), HCQ (Quelimane Central Hospital), HGQ (Quelimane General Hospital), INS (National Institute of Health – Zambézia), FDC (Community Development Foundation – Zambézia), FGH (Friends in Global Health – Zambézia), LAMDA (Mozambican Association for the Defense of Sexual Minorities), OMES-PASSOS+ (Mozambican Organization for the Elimination of AIDS + Social Support and Sustainability Program – Zambézia), ICAP (International Center for AIDS Care and Treatment Programs – Zambézia), ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency – Zambézia), AHF (AIDS Healthcare Foundation – Zambézia), NWETI (Community Development Program), SANTO EGIDIO/DREAM (Community of Sant’Egidio – DREAM Program – Zambézia), ADPP (Development Aid from People to People), NÓS SAÚDE (Community Health Promotion Organization), PLASOCS-Z (Civil Society Platform for Health, Emergency and Development of Zambézia), and ODEC (Community-Led Monitoring, ART adherence and retention).