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This story dates from our time as Namati Moçambique. In 2026 we became Matimba, an independent Mozambican organisation. The work described here is ours; only the name has changed.
At Cumbana Health Center, a discriminatory practice was quietly undermining the health and dignity of HIV patients. During a community listening session, patients shared a troubling reality with health advocate Geraldo Guilundo: while other patients collected medications discreetly through the pharmacy window, those receiving HIV treatment were told to use a separate door – a visible distinction that drew unwanted attention and reinforced harmful stigma. This practice violated patients' fundamental right to privacy and had dangerous consequences. Many patients began avoiding the health center altogether, putting their lives and treatment outcomes at risk.
“On the days of my appointment, I always had to collect my medication from the pharmacy door, unlike the other patients who picked up theirs at the window. It was humiliating. Some patients gave me side glances, others whispered, and it made me feel extremely ashamed. I started avoiding the hospital out of fear. I even thought about stopping the treatment. I was losing the strength to continue, because only those who go through this know the burden it puts on our minds.”
Amelia, patient, Cumbana Health Center
Geraldo, working alongside village health committee members and the patients' rights office, brought this urgent concern to the HIV department head, who acknowledged the problem. However, initial meetings with facility management and pharmacy staff stalled without solutions.
The advocacy team persisted. They escalated the case to the Inhambane Provincial Health Directorate, which recommended a transformative approach: a "one-stop strategy" that ensures all patients – regardless of their condition – receive consultation, counseling, and medication dispensing in the same private space.
Follow-up monitoring confirmed the change was working. Patients now receive confidential, respectful care that protects their privacy and reduces stigma – making them far more likely to continue their life-saving treatment.
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