According to the deputy health minister, Lídia Cardoso, she considered that the vaccines donated today to Mozambique come "at an opportune moment" because the country is experiencing a third wave of infections.

"This donation comes to our country at an opportune moment, at a time when the country is being ravaged by a third wave of covid-19," he explained, at Maputo Airport, during the reception of 50,000 doses of the Vaxzevria vaccine (AstraZeneca) offered by Portugal.

They were the first to be delivered, on the same day that another 108,000 will be donated by the Covax mechanism, thanks to a French support.

"Since mid-June, the number of new infections shows a sharp increase," she stressed.

In just four days, the number of deaths in July amounted on Sunday to 26, thus surpassing the total recorded in May (22), which had been the month with the lowest number of covid-19 cases and deaths since the peak of 274 deaths and more than 20,000 infections in February.

Vaccines "must be combined with the other preventive measures", otherwise they will have no effect, he stressed.

The Portuguese Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Francisco André, said that Mozambique is the "largest recipient of Portuguese cooperation" and, in the specific case of the fight against covid-19, the batch of vaccines delivered today is the first. 

"We are working so that a second similar batch can follow in the near term," he noted.

On the other hand, he expects an "identical shipment" to "other cooperation partner countries" to be conducted later "this month and during the summer", considering that this is a pandemic that must be managed together.

"We have a relationship of solidarity and a special relationship between our countries," he said at today's ceremony at Maputo airport, noting that the relationship should be "deepened in the most diverse areas."

"We have to be present in the moments that are difficult for some and for others," he stressed.