Sofar Fellow Spotlight: Advancing Integrated Health Services in Mozambique

High tuberculosis rates and rising Type 2 Diabetes present overlapping challenges in Mozambique. Sofar Fellow Denise Michela Milice (MD, MPH) reflects on strategies for connecting care to improve patient outcomes and inform future research.

In Mozambique, patients often face both TB and Type 2 Diabetes, yet the health system largely treats these conditions separately. In a thoughtful reflection, Sofar Fellow Denise Michela Milice explores how integrating services can address gaps in care, improve follow-up, and guide research and policy — offering insights particularly relevant for early-career researchers and global health practitioners.

"The lack of integrated action to respond to TB–T2D comorbidity is worrying, as Mozambique has one of the highest TB incidences worldwide."– Denise Michela Milice, Sofar Fellow

Key Insights :

• Vertical programs limit integration: TB and diabetes services are often siloed, leaving patients with complex health needs underserved.

• Screening and guideline gaps: Lack of diabetes protocols in TB care leads to missed diagnoses and treatment delays.

• Mixed-methods research proposal: Denise outlines a PhD study using qualitative and quantitative approaches to explore how integrated care can be implemented in Mozambique’s primary healthcare system.

• Global and local relevance: Lessons from neighboring countries and pilot initiatives can inform policy changes, benefiting both patients and the wider health system.

"Vertical, disease-specific programs have left patients with complex needs underserved, highlighting the urgent need for integrated primary healthcare services."– Denise Michela Milice, Sofar Fellow

Why This Matters

For early-career researchers and global health practitioners, this reflection demonstrates the importance of syndemic-aware research — addressing multiple overlapping diseases rather than treating them in isolation. It also highlights the role of primary healthcare in delivering integrated, patient-centered services.

"My PhD research aims to explore how the Mozambican health system can better assess and address the healthcare needs of individuals living with TB and T2D."– Denise Michela Milice, Sofar Fellow

Read the full article →https://www.internationalhealthpolicies.org/featured-article/why-is-the-integration-of-tuberculosis-and-type-2-diabetes-related-health-services-necessary-in-mozambique-a-reflection-based-on-a-phd-research-idea/

Source / Credit:

Featured on International Health Policies | By Denise Michela Milice (MD, MPH)