Mozambique: healthcare after Cyclone Idai
Published 26th April 2019
Update 2nd August
It’s been almost five months since cyclone Idai shook Mozambique.
The natural disaster killed more than 600 people died and thousands of people were displaced after losing everything: their homes, their crops, their tools, their means to survive.
To provide help, Doctors of the World activated the emergency protocol and arrived to work in the area devastated by the cyclone. We focused on three basic areas:
- support to local health centers in the region,
- health care in various camps of displaced persons and
- psychosocial support at Dondo Hospital, in the Sofala region.
We have conducted more than 18,000 consultations to provide support and make people’s lives more dignified again.
This is the story of Paulo
Paulo is one of the hundreds of displaced children in the Djon Segredo camp (Sofala, Mozambique).
This is the story of Ana Paula
Ana Paula was a nurse at the Nhangau health center.
This is the story of Rosa Antonio
Rosa Antonio was one of the women surviving in the camp for displaced people from Djon Segredo. She lost everything: her house, her belongings and the food she stored.
Update 26th April – Doctors of the World teams are currently monitoring the impact of Cyclone Kenneth and will provide support if needed.
John Segredo Accommodation Centre is a makeshift camp set up for those displaced by Cyclone Idai.
100 km from the port city of Beira, the camp is currently housing thousands of people. There are serious concerns about the source of drinking water, which is located many miles away and was significantly damaged by the passing storm, and food is currently rationed.
“We help repair and equip local health centers so that they can resume operations. At the same time, we are providing care to people who have lost their homes” said Doctors of World Emergency Coordinator Cristina Miñana, summarizing the on-site activities.
A cholera outbreak has been confirmed in the city of Beira. Mozambique’s government has recorded more than 4,000 cholera cases including 7 deaths.Â
In response, we are supporting the cholera vaccination campaign carried out with the Ministry of Health and World Health Organisation. Our teams have also built field hospitals within the camp to provide families with consultations and access to healthcare.
Cyclone Idai swept across Mozambique in March causing severe flooding and damage to infrastructure.
The storm caused over 1,000 deaths and an estimated 110,000 people were displaced into camps. More than 50 health centers and hospitals in Mozambique have been partially destroyed.
Doctors of the World, present in Mozambique since 2000, quickly mobilized our emergency teams who travelled to Beira and the surrounding areas in order to assess the immediate health needs of the affected communities. Our teams continue to work to locate and assist those in the hardest hit regions.
In response to the Cyclone Idai emergency, Doctors of the World sent 7,000 kg of medical supplies and equipment to Mozambique, including kits for the prevention and treatment of cholera, to prevent the current outbreak from becoming an epidemic.
As health needs have greatly increased, an immense strain has been put on local health infrastructure. It is essential to ensure continued access to healthcare in the aftermath of a natural disaster in order to prevent the spread of disease.Â
Our teams are working alongside national health actors in order to strengthen their capacity and ability to deal with the influx of patients they are receiving. Through coordinated efforts, Doctors of the World hopes to support the communities affected by the cyclone and to prevent further spreading of disease and premature death.