See more BNEWS on Google
Three researchers from the Manhiça Health Research Centre (CISM), in Maputo Province, have joined an international commission proposing a new approach to preparing for and responding to future pandemics, with particular emphasis on protecting the most vulnerable populations.
The researchers are Alberto L. García-Basteiro, Vasco Sambo and Olga Cambaco, who work in the fields of tuberculosis, bacterial diseases and population studies, respectively. They are participating in the NUS–Lancet PRIME Commission, an initiative of the National University of Singapore and the scientific journal The Lancet.
According to a statement from CISM, cited by the Mozambique News Agency (AIM), the commission's work has resulted in the publication of a scientific article and an international report containing recommendations to improve countries' preparedness for future public health emergencies.
The report was presented in September in New York during the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week, at an event attended by representatives of governments, international organisations, academic institutions and civil society organisations.
The commission is co-chaired by former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark and Professor Helena Legido-Quigley. It brings together experts from different regions of the world specialising in public health, epidemiology, economics, governance and social sciences.
The study examined experiences from 20 countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, seeking to identify the factors that influenced communities' ability to protect themselves and respond to the consequences of the health crisis.
Mozambique was among the countries included in the research, which involved interviews with national officials and community members, including women living in Manhiça District, Maputo Province.
The research combined interviews with policymakers from different government sectors, analyses of healthcare systems and institutions, future scenario development and epidemiological modelling.
One of the commission's main conclusions is that preparedness for future pandemics should not depend exclusively on the existence of emergency plans, hospital infrastructure or technical capabilities.
According to the researchers, it is equally important to assess the actual capacity of healthcare systems and societies to protect populations, ensuring that protective measures are accessible to all social groups.
The study identified economic insecurity, housing conditions, difficulties accessing essential services and a lack of trust in institutions as factors that can limit communities' ability to respond during a public health emergency.
Based on its findings, the commission presented ten recommendations covering community participation, social protection, financing, governance, health communication and international cooperation.
Among the proposals is the PRIME Test, a tool designed to assess public policies, strategies and investments against criteria such as equity, institutional trust, community participation and the resilience of healthcare systems.
CISM's tuberculosis research coordinator, Alberto L. García-Basteiro, attended the international launch of the report in New York, where he moderated a roundtable discussion on the practical implications of the research findings.
The session examined how the scientific evidence produced by the commission could contribute to improving prevention policies and response mechanisms for future pandemics.
The commission now intends to move towards implementing its recommendations by promoting national and regional discussions involving public authorities, researchers, healthcare professionals, communities and international partners.
The aim is to translate the research findings into concrete measures that strengthen countries' capacity to prevent, respond to and recover from future public health emergencies, while reducing inequalities in access to protection and healthcare.
The Port of Beira, in Mozambique's Sofala Province, is set to strengthen its cereal import and handling operations as part of the government's new strategy to centralise rice imports and improve the efficiency of port procedures.
Mozambican musician Stewart Sukuma will represent Mozambique at the 8th edition of the Arts and Culture Festival between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries in Macau, where he has been announced as one of the event's main performers, according to the Macao Cultural Affairs Bureau.
Maputo Municipal Council has announced plans to support the reconstruction of market stalls destroyed by a fire that broke out at Xikhelene Market on Friday, 25 September, destroying at least 15 commercial establishments and two warehouses.
The cities of Maputo and Matola are at risk of low to moderate flooding over the next 48 hours due to forecasts of moderate to heavy rainfall in southern Mozambique, according to an alert issued on Wednesday, 30 September, by the National Directorate of Water Resources Management (DNGRH).
Choose BNEWS as a preferred source and see more of our reporting when you search on Google.
King Mohammed VI appointed Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri as Morocco's head of government on Tuesday, 29 September, making her the first woman to hold the position in the country's history. The appointment follows her party's victory in the parliamentary elections held on 23 September.
Mozambique’s national football team, the Mambas, face Sudan this Tuesday at the Zimpeto National Stadium in Maputo in the second round of qualification for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
FRELIMO Secretary-General Chakil Aboobacar has urged party officials, particularly leaders at all levels, to avoid individualism and personal grandstanding, calling instead for greater unity and collective work.
Traffic Police have seized more than 150 motorcycle taxis in the city of Beira, Sofala Province, as part of an enforcement operation aimed at tackling irregularities and reducing the high number of road accidents involving this type of transport.
