Mozambique is on our mind because August marks a major anniversary in the history of CUAMM’s work there. On August 25, 2007, the first medical students graduated from the Catholic University of Mozambique, three years after CUAMM launched a program to support teaching and hospital internships for future doctors.

Don Luigi Mazzucato was at the ceremony and left us some of his thoughts on the event:

The people were really involved. There was absolute silence when the graduates read the Hippocratic oath together, and then thunderous, endless applause. It was moving to see as the new doctors hugged each other and their families and friends.
Another wonderful moment was the party that the thirteen new doctors had all together with the professors and families, sharing their common joy. The official speeches specifically and repeatedly expressed appreciation for Doctors with Africa CUAMM for the quality and value of its partnership.

Our commitment to the Catholic University of Mozambique started when it was founded in Beira. We have worked closely with the university ever since. In 2004, we started to support the education of medical students on all fronts, including with scholarships, educational materials, supporting internships, sending our doctors as teachers, and planning educational modules.

Since its launch, we have seen 270 young doctors graduate. Last year, we started scientific research in the Faculty of Health Sciences by forming a CUAMM – Research Center mixed group within the University.

Of those 270 doctors who graduated over the years, our thoughts naturally turn to those first students who graduated in 2007. We are remembering them now through Don Luigi’s words found in our archive. These fresh graduates got their start nine years ago on a path of helping and supporting the people of their country in hospitals and health centers, partly thanks to CUAMM.