Research partners
INS
About INS
The National Institute of Health (INS) is the public institute in Mozambique responsible for implementing, managing, regulating and supervising research activities in the field of health in order to guarantee the overall improvement of health and wellbeing for the Mozambican population.
The INS exists under the supervision of the Ministry of Health, meaning the Ministry of Health has a say in the internal regulation of the INS, for example agreeing on programmes, activity planning and annual reports, implementation of local forms of representation, supervision of INS bodies and documents. The INS supports the Ministry of Health in the design and implementation of public health policy informed by scientific findings.
Meet the team
Dr. Edna Viegas
Dr. Edna Viegas is a physician and researcher at the National Institute of Health (INS) with 14 years of experience in healthcare. She joined the INS in 2009, dedicating herself to research on the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs), with a special focus on the young population.
She completed her Ph.D. in Medical Sciences at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden in 2017. Her thesis was based on epidemiological reports, clinical trials, and the implementation of vaccines against HIV and Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
In 2020, Dr. Edna was appointed head of the INS office in Maputo City, where she was responsible for establishing the technical and scientific structures for INS activities in the province, including public health research.
Dr. Edna has a particular interest in other vaccine-preventable diseases, such as rotavirus infection, as well as food safety, environmental exposure, and child health.
Throughout her successful career, Dr. Edna has also developed an interest in other vaccine-preventable diseases, including rotavirus infection, and has a special interest in food safety, environmental exposure, and child health.
Currently, Dr. Edna Viegas serves as the Provincial Delegate of the INS in Maputo City.
Dr. Rufino Carlos Gujamo
Dr. Rufino Carlos Gujamo holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations and Diplomacy (2004) from the Higher Institute of International Relations (ISRI) in Maputo, a Master’s degree in Governance and Conflict Studies (2009) from Africa University in Zimbabwe, and a PhD in History (2016) with a specialisation in Dynamics of the Contemporary World from the University of Lisbon.
Dr. Rufino is currently the Director of the Division of Training and Health Communication at the National Institute of Health (INS). He has extensive experience in the fields of communication and education, having undergone various responsibilities in these areas.
Dr. Rufino has published in journals such as the E-Journal of Portuguese History and the Journal of Cultural and Religious Studies, in addition to contributing chapters to books. He is a member of the Editorial Board of the Mozambican Journal of International Studies. He is also a member of the International Association of Portuguese Language Social and Human Sciences (AILPsch) and a Professor at Joaquim Veríssimo Serrão Research Centre in Portugal. Currently, Dr Rufino’s areas of interest lie in communication and health, the history of health in Mozambique, and scientific cooperation in the current health field.
