PROTECT – Pediatric Health Protection

The initiative aims to assist the health authorities of the country in ensuring that Mozambique can continue its progress towards achieving the goals of reducing infant mortality, particularly neonatal mortality, which remains high (28.55/1,000 live births), and reducing new HIV infections in minors. It is estimated that 12.6% of child deaths in Mozambique are attributable to HIV, and the majority of deaths under the age of 5 are linked to late access or poor quality of services provided at healthcare facilities.

Specifically, the project aims to guarantee and improve the quality and utilization of maternal, neonatal, and child health services, particularly those related to prevention of vertical transmission of HIV, care for sick newborns, and pediatric emergencies, for the communities residing in the target areas of healthcare facilities in the Beira district and in Maputo, with a focus on newborns (0-28 days), children, pregnant women, and HIV-positive individuals.

Based on the aforementioned issues and through the experience and collaborations established over the years, ACAP has identified the following needs on which it intends to have an impact with this initiative:

1. Rehabilitation of spaces in two health centers: ensuring the provision of tools and equipment to support early HIV diagnosis and improve the quality of prenatal care, raising awareness within communities about HIV, with a focus on pregnant women who are HIV positive.
2. Support for clinical activities in primary prenatal care, awareness-raising, and data collection at the 5 target centers in Beira and Maputo.
3. Support for clinical activities in neonatal intensive care.
4. Training of healthcare personnel in neonatal intensive care in Beira and Maputo.
5. Community-based sensitization regarding risks and danger signs in newborns.
6. Support for data collection in the field of neonatology.

Improvement of the clinical and organizational quality of pediatric emergency services in the Beira district and the city of Maputo. Tools and activities include:

1. Support for the pediatric emergency referral system in Beira.

The initiative will take place in Mozambique in the following locations:

• Maputo Province/Matola District
• Maputo City Province/Maputo City District
• Sofala Province/Beira District