Biographical Summary

I am serving the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) as its Haut Representant / High Representative since March 2004. I also serve in the boards of the International Women’s Health Coalition (IWHC) and the Medicines for Malaria Venture (MMV), as well as in The Commission on Social Determinants of Health (CSDH), the Commission on HIV and Governance in Africa (CHGA), and the Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise Coordinating Committee. Trained as a medical doctor, practised medicine in public sector and joined the Government of Mozambique in 1980: Prime Minister (from 1994 to 2004), Minister of Foreign Affairs (1987 to 1994), Minister of Health (1980 to 1987). In 2005 was nominated WHO Good Will Ambassador for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health for the African Region.

1980 - 1987 Minister of Health
As Minister of Health and a public health administrator, I have dealt not only with health policy, health assessment and health sector reform, but also with material and human resource management. I have led many delegations to World Health Organization (WHO) meetings, workshops and panels. Recognizing the importance of greater collaboration among United Nations Funds, Programmes and Agencies, I participated in many United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) meetings and conferences.
Under my leadership, the Mozambican Ministry of Health (MOH) carried out a major re-structuring of the health sector and adopted a ten-year plan of action in 1981, aimed at rationalizing the Ministry's structure, to strengthen co-ordination of health service delivery, and expand coverage to reduce the distance from the village to the nearest primary health unit.
Confronted with scarce resources for maternal and newborn health, initiated a new career of maternal and child health nurses and conceived a programme of training non-physicians, such as nurses and medical assistants, in lifesaving skills especially, for emergency obstetric care necessary to reduce maternal mortality.
Recognizing the importance of good data for planning and management, in 1980, instituted a nation-wide health information system, later streamlined in 1982-83. The most important statistics were published annually and used for management at all levels of the health care system. A complementary system collected data from specific programmes such as the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), Maternal and Child Health (MCH), Occupational Health, Environmental Health, and Infectious Diseases Control. In addition to these routine systems, I initiated surveys to collect data for planning on infant mortality, birth weight, health care utilization and coverage, and causes of death. Together, the routine system and the surveys resulted in better management of cholera epidemics and complex emergencies associated with food insecurity and famine. Through a focus on improved information, I managed to base both health system management and multi-sectoral health policy on sound evidence at a time of scarce resources in Mozambique.

1987 – 1994 Minister of Foreign Affairs
In my capacity as Minister of Foreign Affairs, I represented the Government of Mozambique at the United Nations General Assembly Sessions and conferences, bringing to bear my experience in public health management. I dedicated my efforts to the search for peace and contributed to the mobilization of international support for improved health care throughout my country. During this time, Mozambique suffered a period of destabilization inflicted by the apartheid regime. The successful outcome of the peace process in 1992 had an extraordinary impact on both the country and the health sector. In particular, in the health sector, a reconstruction and resettlement programme supported by the international community started immediately the war ended.

1994 – 2004 Prime Minister
I was appointed Prime Minister of the Republic of Mozambique, following the successful multi-party elections in 1994, and re-appointed after the 2nd general elections in 2000. As Prime Minister, I co-ordinated the implementation of the Government programme for socio-economic reconstruction of Mozambique - severely devastated by the war compounded by successive natural disasters. These efforts to preserve and consolidate peace, and promote stability and national reconciliation, have been largely successful.
With peace and people’s freedom of movement, Mozambique has suffered a rapidly worsening HIV/AIDS epidemic, linked to the free movement of people benefiting from peace and stability. As Chair of the National AIDS Council, I have taken a leading role in intensifying the fight against HIV/AIDS, prioritising prevention and stressing the need for an integrated approach that addresses gender and health inequities.
I have recognized the crucial importance of new information and communication technologies (ICT) for development. In addition to being a competent ICT user, I have chaired the national ICT Policy Commission, in charge of preparing the national ICT policy and implementation strategy. Mozambique is now a major contributor to the newly established UN ICT Task Force.
Six years as Health Minister, seven as Foreign Minister and in almost ten years as Prime Minister I contributed to transform Mozambique from a war torn Mozambique into one of the well-governed and fastest growing economies of Africa. In international work, I strived to put into practice my belief that people’s health is at the heart of true and sustainable development. I have extensive experience in both clinical work and in evidence-based health system management with scarce resources. At this time, the HIV/AIDS epidemic and macroeconomic links to the health sector are dominant issues on the international health agenda, I wish to use my managerial and diplomatic skills to promote “equal opportunities to health for all”.