The DREAM Program, active at the Manga Chingussura Health Center since 2002, initially focused on the fight against HIV/AIDS, with a particular emphasis on preventing vertical transmission (from mother to child). In recent years, DREAM has expanded its interventions to include the management of non-communicable diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes, which affect many pregnant women. Today, women represent the majority of patients followed at the center.

To date, the DREAM Program at the Manga Chingussura Health Center has provided direct assistance to over 37,000 people living with HIV/AIDS. Currently, around 7,000 patients are receiving care, including about 5,000 women, approximately 1,100 of whom are being followed for vertical transmission prevention (PTV) and another 2,000 receiving general Maternal-Child Health (MCH) care.

The construction of the new block of clinics, integrated into the Manga Chingussura Health Center, was designed to improve the flow of care and the quality of maternal and child health services. The main goal is to ensure that all care is provided in a single location, reducing movement within the center and minimizing the risk of patients abandoning their therapies.

Construction began in March 2024 and was completed by December of the same year, thanks to the support of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, which funds the PROTECT project, in collaboration with CUAMM and AUCI.

The new building includes several facilities that improve healthcare service efficiency, including:

• A meeting room
• A pharmaceutical storage area
• Two restrooms
• Five clinics

Although the new space is primarily dedicated to women and newborns, it was designed to also accommodate spouses and other family members, emphasizing the importance of integrated and family-centered healthcare.

The PROTECT Project, launched in January 2023, will continue until December 2025. Key activities include providing equipment for healthcare units, training healthcare personnel, and offering maternal and neonatal care with particular attention to the prevention of vertical HIV transmission. Additionally, neonatal care services and pediatric emergency treatments are provided.

During the inauguration ceremony, Eng. Flávio Ismael, Coordinator of the DREAM Program in Mozambique, emphasized the importance of the strong partnership between DREAM, the Archdiocese of Beira, the Catholic University, and the Provincial Health Directorate. This collaboration, which not only improves infrastructure but also includes training activities, equipment provision, and strengthening Maternal-Child Health services, is a fundamental value for the success of the project.

Eng. Ismael concluded his speech with a strong message of unity, stating: “We do not want to leave anyone behind; we are all in the same boat.” This is a commitment that the DREAM Program has upheld since 2003, when it started its activities in Chingussura.

The new block is not just an infrastructural innovation, but represents a concrete step toward improving maternal and child health in the Sofala province.