In the heart of the Zimpeto neighborhood in Maputo, the DREAM Sant’Egidio Center hosted the launch ceremony of the IN.FOR.MO. project – Training and data to inform sustainable health policies and assess the quality of healthcare services. A name that captures an ambitious goal: to strengthen Mozambique’s healthcare system through high-quality research, training, and care services.

The day began with a visit to the outpatient clinics and the molecular biology laboratory of the center, a reference point for HIV diagnosis and monitoring. This was followed by the official presentation of the project in the conference hall, with representatives from the Mozambican Ministry of Health, the Italian Cooperation, and the DREAM Program in attendance.

IN.FOR.MO. is a three-year project to be implemented in five urban and semi-urban districts in Mozambique – including Maputo, Matola, Beira, and Quelimane – involving seven health centers and three molecular biology laboratories.

Its main goals are clear and concrete:

• Reach over 35,000 people with prevention and awareness-raising activities on HIV, HPV, diabetes, and hypertension

• Provide quality care to 30,000 HIV patients, improving diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up

• Strengthen services for hypertension and diabetes, chronic diseases that are growing rapidly but often underestimated

Beyond service delivery, the project aims to train local healthcare workers and collect up-to-date data to guide future health policies. The ultimate goal is to create effective, replicable care models at the national level.

IN.FOR.MO. is rooted in a long history of collaboration. The DREAM Program of the Community of Sant’Egidio has been active in Mozambique since 2001 and marked a turning point for the African continent: it was the first to offer free antiretroviral therapy (ARV) and advanced HIV diagnostics.

From the outset, DREAM focused on training local staff – doctors, biologists, nurses, IT specialists, and activists – without relying on expatriates. This approach allowed the program to integrate into the national health system and become a recognized model for its vision, rigor, and person-centered care.

Today, many of the women who coordinate the DREAM centers are former patients who have completed advanced training programs – a living testimony of empowerment and transformation.

Currently, the program includes:

• 10 active health centers, from north to south

• 2 molecular biology laboratories

• A network of urban and rural services capable of reaching even the most remote communities

Mozambique remains one of the countries most affected by HIV, with a high prevalence among young people and women. In recent years, however, new challenges have emerged: hypertension, diabetes, and cervical cancer.

To address this dual emergency, since 2016 DREAM has launched – with the support of the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation (AICS) – a new initiative: DREAM 2.0, an integrated model that combines care for infectious and non-communicable diseases, blending scientific rigor with a strong community focus.

IN.FOR.MO. is promoted by the University of Rome Tor Vergata, long committed to international health cooperation, in partnership with Eduardo Mondlane University in Maputo and the DREAM Program of the Community of Sant’Egidio, with the support of the Italian Cooperation.

This alliance between Italian and Mozambican institutions represents a virtuous model of concrete, supportive, and sustainable cooperation.