MAPUTO (Mozambique) - Saving lives as a profession has got to be the most important motivation to wake up every morning for medical doctors and during this pandemic, an absolute fulfillment for those at the frontline as the world battles the coronavirus. 

In Mozambique where the total number of cases is 76 with no deaths, FIBA Africa Women's Champions Cup 2019 MVP Ingvild Mucauro is playing her part to be part of the solution. 

The 28-year old shooting guard, who works in the Emergency Room at the Jose Macamo General Hospital in the capital of Maputo, is working long hours day and night to be on the alert to save lives. 

"IT IS A VERY HARD SITUATION BUT WE ARE GLAD WE DO NOT HAVE ANY DEATHS YET. IT IS NOT EASY AS AN AFRICAN COUNTRY. WE KNOW OUR DEFICIENCIES BUT WE DO THE BEST WE CAN TO HELP ANYONE IN NEED. WE ARE EXPOSED AND WE TRY TO BE THE SAFEST WE CAN SO THAT WE CAN PROTECT OUR FAMILIES TOO."- Mucauro

Speaking exclusively to FIBA.basketball, Mucauro said, "In our hospital, we opened a unit especially for COVID-19 patients where we have been given the proper equipment to attend to them. We take the samples for examination of the patients that are in a severe condition and then we transfer them to a special hospital that the Ministry of Health opened here in Maputo."

"We have our laboratory center so we send them the samples and wait as we continue to take care of the patients," she explained in detail about the process of testing patients. 

Mucauro, who is a general practitioner at the moment, graduated in 2017 from the University Eduardo Mondlane which is until now the largest and oldest university in Mozambique established in 1962. 

Her commitment as a medical doctor just as it has always been on court is unrivaled and a quick reminder that as someone who always gives her very best, this merely expounds her character as an individual and has left those that know her closely admire her tenacity to always balance the hoops game and her professional career as a medical doctor. 

"As a basketball player, it is very hard because I miss playing so much. I miss my teammates. I miss competing but now the most important thing is to get over this pandemic safe and healthy as a doctor. I will do the best thing to help every patient in need and inform as many people as I can to do everything possible so that we cannot spread it to our family friends."

Mucauro shone a limelight on the situation in Mozambique and said, "It is a very hard situation but we are glad that we do not have any deaths yet. It is not easy as an African country. We know our deficiencies but we do the best we can to help anyone in need. We are exposed and we try to be the safest we can so that we can protect our families too."

In February, Mucauro was at the forefront of Mozambique's search for a Tokyo 2020 Olympics ticket in Belgrade, Serbia but even though they fell short of their target, she was getting ready to kickstart the regular national league season with her club Ferroviario de Maputo - the reigning African champions. 

FIBA