Maputo — The European Commission has disbursed 2.2 million euros to co-finance NGOS working on health care, and particularly on the fight against HIV/AIDS, as part of a European Union project in Mozambique budgeted at around 30 million euros.
A European Commission press release received by AIM on Monday indicates that the money will by channelled through the Luxembourg branch of Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders), through the Inter-Hospital Cooperation Council (CIC), and through the German Red Cross. These European organisations have all been working closely with the Mozambican Red Cross and with the Health Ministry.
750,000 euros of this grant will be used to raise community awareness of the threat posed by HIV/AIDS in the western city of Tete, particularly among young women. This is aimed at "contributing to a change in sexual behaviour supported by the community". The funds will also make possible the continuation of voluntary HIV testing and counselling in Tete. 734,000 euros is going to the German Red Cross to launch a community project in Chibuto, Chokwe, Guija, Bilene and Mandlacaze districts in the southern province of Gaza, aimed at improving the living conditions of people suffering from HIV/AIDS. This project will also support Gaza orphans whose parents died of AIDS.
729,000 euros has been allocated to the CIC to strengthen health services in Morrumbala district, in the central province of Zambezia. This project hopes to improve the organisational and management capacities of the Morrumbala Rural Hospital. It includes the supply of various medical equipment, including that needed to carry out HIV tests.
Meanwhile, the MOZAL aluminium smelter has claimed that the vast majority of its work force took voluntary HIV tests last weeks. The purpose of the tests was to determine the level of HIV prevalence at MOZAL.
Of the 1,000 permanent staff at MOZAL, 920 took the test, while of the 500 contracted staff (working on the extension to the smelter), 402 participated.
The management guaranteed beforehand that taking the test was voluntary, and that it was entirely confidential and anonymous.
