Medical staff at the field hospital

Peace Initiative Cost:$200,000 Donors: United Nations, Swiss Government

      After the end of the foreign sponsored civil war in Mozambique, the country began the long, hard process of reconstruction. The Presbyterian Church of Mozambique was the only Protestant church called upon by the United Nations Demobilization force to take an active role in the effort towards restoring peace to Mozambique and reconciling the two armies to each other and to civilian life.
     There were three aspects of learning peace that needed attention: military strategy, humanitarian aid, and political reformation. The Presbyterian Church was involved in the humanitarian aid aspect of demobilization. A hospital was established to treat Renamo soldiers, as well as numerous women and children who were also in the Renamo camp. It was as much a refugee camp as an army installation. The hospital was in a tent set up in Gaza Province, between Maputo, Beira and Inhabane, at a site called Changanine. Due to the viciousness of the war, Renamo soldiers were concerned that their interests would not be considered, or that the medical personnel serving them would biased against them. They did not trust any local medical staff. So the Presbyterian Church supplied a field hospital with one doctor and three nurses from other countries. The PCM also helped supply medicine and medical supplies. This field hospital was in operation for a year, until the soldiers and refugees were ready to begin the process of reintegration with the rest of society.
     The Presbyterian Church also sent a technical team to help with reconstruction in the area. Indeed, throughout the war ravaged country, the church has been busy rebuilding destroyed structures, educating former soldiers, and establishing agricultural projects to help the entire country feed itself and earn a decent living.