Text/photos – Janado Nazare Cher
On November 24, 2025, in the city of Beira, Sofala province, the provincial meeting of the PEACE (Peace through Economic Action and Community Empowerment) project took place. The project is funded by the Canadian High Commission and has been implemented by Gorongosa National Park in the district of Cheringoma since 2020.
The opening ceremony of the meeting was led by the Provincial Health Director of Sofala, Graciana Pita, who praised the efforts of Gorongosa National Park in providing health care to families in hard-to-reach areas.
The event was attended by several participants from all districts of the Sustainable Development Zone, including members of the Sofala Provincial Government.
Lasting two days, this meeting served to discuss issues related to the challenges and solutions of access to healthcare for local communities, with a special focus on mobile brigades, maternal and child health and nutrition, community health initiatives, and, above all, the results of the project between 2020 and 2025.
In line with the topics presented on the first day of the meeting of the PEACE Project, beneficiaries and direct stakeholders, namely model mothers, multipurpose and elementary health workers, and health technicians shared powerful messages and testimonials about changes in access to basic health care in communities before and after the project’s introduction.
For stakeholders and beneficiaries, mobile brigades are spaces where Gorongosa National Park, in partnership with district governments, provides various health services to promote the well-being of families in the Sustainable Development Zone. These packages include vaccination, deworming of children, food and nutrition education, and birth registration, among other services.
Thanks to these achievements, Gorongosa National Park was highlighted at this meeting for its crucial role in supporting communities affected by chronic malnutrition, as well as in supporting pregnant women and children in areas that are difficult to access.
Closing of the Provincial Meeting of the PEACE Project
The two-day meeting of the PEACE Project (Peace through Economic Action and Community Empowerment), funded by the Canadian High Commission and implemented by Gorongosa National Park in the district of Cheringoma since 2020, left important points for reflection on the importance of projects supporting communities in different sectors, highlighting the health and well-being of families as an essential and urgent factor.
To date, there are families who need to travel at least 17 km or more to the nearest health facility to receive basic health care.
As a symbol of its commitment, Gorongosa National Park has reaffirmed its determination to continue seeking partners to support families in the Sustainable Development Zone and to collaborate with the government to find solutions.
In terms of presenting results, the Park, through the Resilient Infrastructure Project, is building new hospital blocks to improve health services and is also rehabilitating some blocks that were in poor condition in some existing health facilities.
