Clinical Training Helps Mozambique Prepares to Open First PEN-Plus Clinic

Dr. Jorge Sixpence and Dr. Ana Mocumbi lead NCD training for health care professionals ahead of opening of PEN-Plus clinic in Nhamatanda.

As Mozambique prepares to open its first PEN-Plus clinic in Nhamatanda, NCDI Poverty Network Co-Chair Dr. Ana Mocumbi, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane Chair of Medicine, Dr. Sam Patel, and Network PEN-Plus Regional Technical Advisor Dr. Jorge Sixpence led training sessions for four days in December. Twenty five healthcare professionals including physicians, general medicine technicians, nutritionists, and data managers attended the training.

The training focused on the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes, asthma, hypertension, and epilepsy, as well as the completion of clinical forms for these conditions. The training consisted of lectures, discussion of clinical cases, and group work.

Participants working in groups during NCD training.

Alongside training activities, the PEN-Plus team met the administrator of Nhamatanda district to discuss practical issues related to opening the clinic. The PEN-Plus clinic is slated to open at Nhamatanda Rural Hospital in February 2023.

As to the importance of this training, Dr. Sixpence observed “I hope the knowledge acquired during this training will contribute to the management of severe, chronic diseases that disproportionately affect children and young adults in the rural, impoverished Nhamatanda area.”