COVID-19 Responders in Mozambique Share Their Stories
“On April 1, a COVID-19 case was confirmed in the camp of a multinational company operating on the extraction of liquified gas in a northern province. I was designated as the team leader for this investigation. We had to conduct case investigations and contact tracing to block the chain of transmission and prevent the spread of new cases to the community. I felt a chill of anxiety in my belly from the great responsibility. Everything depended on the success of my work to be able to control this cluster, so I had to concentrate and give my best. I also felt my heart break because I had to travel for work and leave my six-month-old baby daughter.
Upon arriving at the camp, with the support of the local team, we conducted investigations and managed to trace 32 contacts in the company camp and two contacts in the community. All contacts were quarantined. We tested all 34 contacts for SARS-CoV-2, of which five from the camp were positive and the two community contacts were negative. We visited the camp clinic, where we looked in the logbooks and found that they often treated patients with upper respiratory infections and implemented active surveillance for COVID-19.”
-- Auria Banze, Cohort 4 graduate, Mozambique Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (FELTP)
“Since the identification of the first COVID-19 case in Mozambique, the FELTP has been involved in several preparedness and response activities, including the development of forms and tools, case investigation, contact tracing, and active surveillance at the central level. As a new resident, this was my first experience in emergency response.
In late April, within the scope of strengthening surveillance activities for the COVID-19 response, I deployed with a team of technicians from the Ministry of Health and the National Institute of Health to Nampula Province. Our main tasks were to exchange knowledge about the preparedness and response activities and support the implementation of COVID-19 active and community surveillance. This task helped me increased my learning as a resident of the FELTP. It also helped me to realize the level of responsibility and readiness that the field epidemiologist should have during his career.”
-- Dionísia Balate, Cohort 5 resident, Mozambique FELTP