MAPUTO, Mozambique, August 10, 2026/APO Group/ —
- During the second round of the national polio vaccination campaign, held in June 2026, the system once again demonstrated its value.
- In the provinces covered by the campaign, thousands of vaccinators, supervisors, community mobilisers and support teams received their payments via MOMO, enabling them to keep their focus on protecting children.
- A key part of this process is the MOMO focal points, who are based at each health centre.
- Manansses Rosário, from the Luia Health Centre in the Chifunde District, carries out her duties as a MOMO using her Android mobile phone and with the support of the provincial Super Trainer.
- It is their responsibility to register staff on the digital platform, keep track of colleagues during the campaign and ensure that all the necessary information is correct for the processing of payments.
In a vaccination campaign, success does not depend solely on vaccines reaching communities on time. It also relies on thousands of health workers and volunteers who travel long distances to vaccinate children, engage families and ensure that no community is left behind. To ensure this work proceeds without delay, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been transforming the way these workers are paid by implementing the Mobile Money (MOMO) digital payment system.
Since 2024, WHO Mozambique has been leading the use of MOMO to pay workers involved in public health campaigns and other emergency interventions. To date, more than USD 14.4 million has been channeled through this solution to nearly 246 000 beneficiaries across the country, reinforcing Mozambique’s experience in digitizing payments in the health sector. By replacing cash payments with mobile money transfers, the solution has made payments faster, safer, more transparent and more inclusive, significantly reducing the logistical challenges associated with transporting and distributing cash during large-scale campaigns.
“This is my second polio vaccination campaign as a MOMO focal point, and it has been very straightforward to carry out this role. The platform is easy to use and, immediately after the training, I was able to register my colleagues and monitor their attendance without any difficulty,” explains Manansses Rosário, 30, a MOMO focal point in the district of Chifunde. For WHO, the digitalization of payments reflects an investment in strengthening health systems and the operational capacity of campaigns. “The digitisation of payments represents a significant step forward in the way we support health campaigns,” emphasises Gwinyayi Chikonzo, WHO Acting Operations Officer in Mozambique. “We are making processes more efficient, more transparent and more inclusive, whilst significantly strengthening accountability and ensuring a complete digital record of all transactions.”
This innovation also represents a significant benefit for partners investing in health through WHO. The use of electronic processes enhances the traceability of resources, improves monitoring mechanisms and strengthens transparency in the use of funds allocated to public health interventions. As Mozambique continues to expand the use of Mobile Money to different health activities, experience shows that digital innovation can go far beyond technology. In a country where distance, logistics and financial inclusion continue to pose challenges, Mobile Money is proving that digital solutions can bring resources closer to those who need them most and strengthen the health system’s response.
