By Liam Carstens
Vice President of Programs

This July, BBF hosted a delegation to discuss ongoing and future work in Mozambique. The group included Mozambique’s Minister of Health, Ussene Hilário Isse; Mozambique’s Ambassador to the United States, Alfredo Fabião Nuvunga; Greg Carr and other representatives from the Gorongosa Restoration Project; Jessica Griffin Burke, Associate Vice Chancellor for Global Affairs, Health Sciences, at the University of Pittsburgh; and other University of Pittsburgh representatives.

During the visit, BBF’s previous donations of audiology equipment and other medical supplies were discussed, and a planned donation of 75 new manual hospital beds and 75 new mattresses was confirmed. Once approved by the Government of Mozambique, BBF will ship the beds and mattresses to the Gorongosa Restoration Project for use in clinics and other healthcare facilities.

The Gorongosa Restoration Project is a public-private partnership in Mozambique tasked with restoring Gorongosa National Park and, among other initiatives, is working to build a new hospital facility in the area. During the visit, Pio Vitorino, Director of the Health Department for Gorongosa National Park, also received equipment to carry back to Mozambique.

BBF is committed to working with the Gorongosa Restoration Project to support its efforts to improve access to healthcare. This work builds on BBF’s ongoing engagement in Mozambique, including a visit last year by then-BBF Director of Strategic Initiatives Julia van den Bergh, who met with stakeholders and partners to discuss opportunities for collaboration.