The Diplomat
The State Secretary for International Cooperation (SECI), Pilar Cancela Rodríguez, has made a commitment in Mozambique to help strengthen the country’s health system in terms of primary care, medical training and access to health resources.
As reported by the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), Cancela made her first trip to Mozambique last week following the approval of the new Law on Cooperation for Sustainable Development and Global Solidarity, in order to intensify the relationship between the two countries in the field of development cooperation, which began in the 1980s and was strengthened in 2021 with the signing of a new Country Partnership Framework (CPF), in force until 2024.
During her visit, Cancela signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Health of Mozambique and AECID to consolidate and continue collaboration in priority areas such as primary care, training in medical specialties, the exchange of experiences among professionals and access to health resources for Mozambican citizens through support for the Common Health Fund (PROSAUDE). Cancela also wanted to show Spain’s support for research projects, such as the one developed by the Manhiça Health Research Center.
“Spain has always been at Mozambique’s side, but especially in the most complicated moments of cyclones, or in the field of research,” said Pilar Cancela during the presentation of the book 40 years of Spain-Mozambique cooperation, together with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Mozambique, Manuel Gonçalves.
Cancela was also able to visit the project Contribute to the right to the city: access to tenure, services and resilient infrastructure in Chamanculo, aimed at facilitating and improving the lives of women from 239 families. The visit concluded with the presentation of the Covenant of Mayors project in Sub-Saharan Africa, an important catalyst for climate action with the political commitment of nearly 300 local governments.
The State Secretary also visited the Project Contribute to the Defense, Guarantee and Exercise of a Life Free of Violence for Women in Maputo, at the Center for Comprehensive Care for Women Victims of Gender Violence at the Mavalane Hospital, where she was able to talk to women survivors and participants of the Psychosocial Support Group, created at the Center itself. Cancela’s agenda was completed with a visit to the Legal and Judicial Training Center and the Mozambican Association of Judges, as part of the delegated cooperation project in the field of justice, Support for the Fight against Corruption in Mozambique.
With this trip, Cancela highlighted some of the key aspects of the new Cooperation Law, such as the inclusion of Africa among the geographic priorities, particularly the Portuguese-speaking countries, and the approach to Spanish Cooperation actors in the field and the interest in the conditions in which they carry out their work.
