Health Minister Ussene Isse stated this Thursday, July 2, that trauma has become one of the greatest threats to public health in the country, with mortality associated with physical trauma rising from about 7% to 8% in 2007 to more than 30% today.
In an interview with the Mozambique News Agency (AIM), the minister described the situation as a “new epidemic” and advocated for a response based on strengthening prevention efforts and expanding hospital capacity.
“Trauma is now one of the major epidemics in our country. Many people are dying because of it,” the minister declared.
As he explained, the rise in traffic accidents and other serious injuries has led the government to move forward with the creation of the China-Mozambique Integrated Center for Trauma Treatment, a facility that aims to position the country as an African leader in the treatment of patients with multiple traumas.
The project is the result of cooperation between Mozambique and China and is expected to become one of the continent’s largest specialized centers in this field. “In 2007, the trauma mortality rate in this country was around 7% or 8%. Today, it exceeds 30%. We must invest not only in the center but also in prevention,” emphasized Ussene Isse.
The minister also revealed that the government currently spends between 5 and 6 million dollars a year on treating trauma victims, many of whom require complex surgeries, prolonged hospital stays, medications, and rehabilitation programs.
“These are patients with multiple injuries. They need hospitalization, medication, surgery, and rehabilitation. Many of them suffer from fractures and remain hospitalized for months, which places a very heavy burden on the healthcare system,” he said.
In addition to the investment in the new center, the official insisted that the top priority must be prevention, pointing to excessive alcohol consumption as one of the leading factors contributing to traffic accidents.
“The main cause of accidents is related to alcohol. People drive while intoxicated. That’s where the consequences we see on the roads come from,” he warned.
In the same interview, Ussene Isse announced the start of negotiations to establish factories for the production of medicines, medical equipment, and medical supplies in Mozambique, arguing that domestic production will help reduce dependence on imports and improve the National Health System’s response capacity in future emergencies.
