Matutuine, Mozambique – The first day of the district level SAIA (Strengthening Integrated Approaches to Hypertension Control) training for the Matutuine district kicked off with the participation of clinical leads from three health facilities in the district. The facilities included Matutuine, Ponto de Ouro, and Salamanga.

SAIA training is part of the Scale SAIA-HTN project from the Mozambican National Institute of Health (INS), which aims to improve the care cascades for hypertension (HTN) care for people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Mozambique. The project is being implemented with the support of the United States National Institutes of Health.

That training was conducted by a team of study assistants from the INS and the central region R01 (SAIA-HTN) project, including Igor Dobe and Maxinel Chidacua. The clinical leads were divided into health facility teams to review their care cascades for HTN care for PLHIV and also process mapping how patients experience this care in their settings.

The event also featured Norberto Lumbadali, another study assistant from the INS, who was present to provide guidance and support. The team is planning to spend the next three days visiting each of the facilities to engage the entire teams and initiate the first systems improvement cycle using the SAIA methodology.

The SAIA methodology is a comprehensive approach to improving hypertension control and prevention. It focuses on strengthening health systems, improving patient care, and reducing health disparities. The methodology has been successfully implemented in several countries and has led to significant improvements in hypertension care and control.

With the participation of clinical leads from three health facilities, the training will enable the health facilities to work together and share best practices to improve patient care and control hypertension. It is an important step towards improving hypertension care for PLHIV in Mozambique

SAIA-HTN initiative has the potential to improve the health of PLHIV in Mozambique. With the support of the Mozambican National Institute of Health, the project is expected to lead to significant improvements in hypertension care and control, reducing the burden of hypertension and improving the overall health of the Mozambican population.