A high level visit by USAID to projects funded by that donor agency to the projects now implemented in Nampula province, specifically in the districts of Mossuril and Monapo, took place on November 17, 2021. Several USAID funded projects implemented by ADPP were visited were Transform Nutrition and Local TB Response, projects of a consortium led by ADPP Mozambique in collaboration with h2n, Unilúrio, Viamo and Gain Mozambique in the first case and Comusanas, Kupulumussanas, FHi 360 and Dimagi in the case of the latter.
The visit of the USAID Mozambique Director, Helen Pataki, aimed to learn about the community interventions implemented by the various projects. In the case of the Transform Nutrition project, the team was received by the Mossuril district administrator, Agostinho André Manila.
The visit also served to appreciate the links between community health activities in health promotion, in particular, appropriate nutritional practices for vulnerable groups, including children under five years, adolescent girls and pregnant and lactating women.
The USAID Director acknowledged the project's good collaboration with the Government at all levels, whether it's the administrator and the rest of the district government, or the District Women's Health and Social Action Services (SDSMAS) and community leaders.
Helen Pataki said she believes that the project has the potential to change the health and future of girls, and that it should aim to change the lives of as many girls as possible, because nutrition is still a big priority for their future.
In turn, the District Administrator acknowledged that the USAID, TN project is influencing the change of many nutritional, sanitation and hygiene habits. "For example, until recently there were not many latrines in these coastal areas whereas now quite a few can be found." – he explained
The Transform Nutrition project is implemented in 12 districts of Nampula province and aims to improve the nutritional status of pregnant and lactating women, adolescent girls and children under 2 years of age.
This was followed by a visit to the Local TB Response project activities at the Monapo-Sede health centre, where the USAID Director toured the maternal and child health services, including maternity, prenatal, postpartum, family planning, healthy child and at risk child consultations. It then visited the care and treatment, general consultations and adult and paediatric triage.
Following the visit, Helen Pataki went to the Tuberculosis department, where the USAID Director received general information on the activities of the sector, the support that the Local TB Response project has been giving through the area leader and activists who carry out community activities, with emphasis on direct observation and treatment, transport of samples through the motorbike courier, and other interventions that result from direct support to the district through the sub-agreement, such as the allocation of a motorbike for the district supervisor of the Tuberculosis program, a cooler for conservation of samples in the laboratory, printer and other work materials.
In general, the USAID Director noted many positive changes registered with the performance of the various projects that are benefiting the population of Nampula.
