Mozambique: Authorities concerned at malfunctioning of public morgues - AIM report
File photo: Notícias
Mozambique’s health authorities will begin a cholera vaccination campaign on Monday in nine districts, the most affected by the current outbreak of the disease, and expect to reach more than 2.2 million people in five days.
According to information released today by the National Directorate of Public Health, this campaign is aimed at the population aged one year and over and will be carried out in the districts of Chiúre and Montepuez (Cabo Delgado province), Gilé, Gurué and Mocuba (Zambézia), Mágoe, Moatize and Zumbo (Tete) and Maringue (Sofala).
“The country is responding to the worsening outbreak that has been going on since October 2023,” the National Directorate of Public Health said.
According to the most recent data, from 1 October 2023 to 2 January 2024, Mozambique recorded a total of 8,266 cases of cholera and 20 deaths in six provinces, which corresponds to a lethality rate of 0.2%.
“The four provinces selected are home to the most critical districts in this resurgence of the outbreak in the country,” he adds.
“The target group for this intervention is 2,271,136 people, corresponding to the population living in the most vulnerable and hotspot areas for the current outbreak,” the same information states.
It added that “in order for the campaign to run smoothly and the objectives to be achieved”, 1,136 teams have been mobilised for this operation, with 7,337 members, including vaccinators, mobilisers, registrars, supervisors, coordinators, data entry clerks, logisticians and drivers, among others.
“In addition, around 1.3 million US dollars have been mobilised to carry out the campaign. This amount includes funds from the government and cooperation partners,” he added.
The campaign will be carried out at fixed posts in health centres and using mobile brigades in previously established locations with a high concentration of people, such as markets, football grounds, rallies, administrative offices, localities and others.
“And, whenever justified, the door-to-door strategy will be adopted,” says the National Directorate of Public Health, adding that “to avoid duplication or failures and allow for a better post-campaign evaluation”, vaccinated people will receive a card “as proof of vaccination and they will have to keep it”.
According to the National Directorate of Public Health, this is a “safe and effective” oral vaccine, which is easy to take but “does not replace other preventative measures” and is “only complementary” to individual and collective hygiene measures or the consumption of boiled or purified water.
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