Chicuque Rural Hospital blessed by the United Methodist Church and international partners amidst national difficulties"

During a visit to the historic Chicuque Rural Hospital, a landmark since the colonial era that was once considered a teaching hospital receiving doctors for internships, we spoke with Dr. Arlindo Romão, the doctor and director of this health unit. In an interview, the director, Dr. Arlindo Romão, in a weakened tone, began to detail what he calls the "never-reported side" of the country's health units, highlighting that, currently, the Chicuque Rural Hospital faces the same difficulties that plague other health units in the country, among them pointing to budget shortages and a lack of human resources as the main obstacles to hospital operations.

According to Dr. Arlindo, the success of Chicuque Hospital has long been supported by the United Methodist Church and international partners. "Now there's a shortage of anesthetics in almost the entire country, but we have them; we've never had that difficulty," he assured. "There's been a lack of everything, but the Church covers those gaps. The director revealed that the support has been crucial in sensitive areas such as the supply of essential medicines and anesthetics, products that are scarce in much of the country. This is the contract that the Church has with the Ministry of Health," he explained.

The director was frank in admitting that, although the church supplies shortcomings in resources and infrastructure, it cannot pay salaries. This is a challenge that puts the unit on the same path as national strikes and labor demands. "When strike situations arise, thank God, because of this support, some workers realize that the working conditions that exist in other hospitals here are a little different. Dr. Arlindo believes that the differentiated working conditions have helped retain talent.

Despite structural difficulties, including the effects of coastal erosion that last year destroyed the home of a specialist who was temporarily rehoused with the help of the church, the hospital has invested in continuous improvement. "It's one of the hospitals that, at least in terms of infrastructure, is improving every year. Not a year goes by that the hospital hasn't benefited from rehabilitation, through the church and its partners overseas," stated Dr. Arlindo, referring to support from the United States and Germany. The structure allows family members of patients transferred from neighboring districts, such as Panda, Homoine, and Murrombene, to have somewhere to stay without having to bear the costs of renting in the city.

Another highlight is the welcoming atmosphere for patients. In addition to the traditional waiting room for pregnant women, the Chicuque Hospital offers a companions' house, equipped with water and electricity. As a recent example of these improvements, the director cited the acquisition of 130 high-quality mattresses, which have already equipped almost all the wards. "This is information that no one ever asks for or ever publishes, but we have it," he said. The doctor acknowledged the budgetary and human resources challenges affecting the institution and made a point of highlighting the vital role of the United Methodist Church and international partners who, according to him, make the hospital "one of the few blessed" in the country, managing to maintain services and infrastructure amidst the crisis. "The church has provided this support and improved conditions," he concluded.