Mozambique: Violence and extreme weather curb health care for thousands
Health facilities and health staff have had a difficult year in Mozambique.
The health system has been the double victim of Cyclone Kenneth and a large-scale outbreak in violence which has seen the flight of healthcare workers and the destruction of more health facilities. That includes facilities that were rehabilitated after being damaged by the cyclone.
According to an assessment made by ICRC health experts, 39 health facilities out of 55 – or 71% of them -- in nine conflict-affected Cabo Delgado districts are non-operational. Moreover, 686 health professionals have fled their places of work due to insecurity.
The violence and lack of health care has forced more than 500,000 people to flee their homes in the Cabo Delgado region. Other health facilities have had to take up the slack.
“We are seeing displaced people from the district of Moeda, Medumbe, Macomia, almost the entire northern area. And so, the number of diseases has risen significantly”, said Rodrigo Armanda, the director of the Mahate Health Center.
The ICRC is assisting the victims of armed conflict who are have been displaced from their homes, including by opening a COVID-19 treatment center and helping residents prevent transmission of the disease through masks and hygiene.
President Peter Maurer of the International Committee of the Red Cross is visiting the region to meet with those in need and see ICRC’s programs. He was also to meet with the President of the Republic of Mozambique, H.E. Felipe Jacinto Nyusi, on Monday.
“The people of Mozambique are today facing a triple humanitarian crisis with persistent threats due to climate change, an upsurge of violence, the COVID-19 pandemic and cholera. We remain at the side of Mozambique in these challenging times and will scale up our support,” President Maurer said.
In 2021, the ICRC will rehabilitate nine primary health facilities serving more than 175,400 patients in Pemba, and support hospitals in Montepuez and Pemba specialized in the treatment of trauma wounds.
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People waiting to be served at a health centre in Mahate, Pemba, Mozambique.
Emilio Mashant, Helth delegate ICRC
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We now have nine districts which are affected by armed conflict out of seventeen from the whole province.
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The total number of health centres in the province is 55 and 39 of them are no longer operational
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because they have been vandalised, or they have been burned, or they have been destroyed.
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People waiting to be served at a health centre and a doctor making notes in the clinic,
Rodrigo Armando, Director of Mahate Health Center
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We are seeing displaced people from the district of Moeda, Medumbe, Macomia, almost the entire northern area
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And so, the number of diseases has risen significantly.
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Doctor making notes in the clinic, ongoing repairs at Mahate clinic.
Emilio Mashant, Helth delegate ICRC
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As long as we don't have access to the areas where the health facilities have been destroyed, vandalised and burned
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we are trying to help the victims of armed conflict who are the internally displaced people (IDP),
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we are tying to help them from where they currently are
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This is why for example we are tying to support these health centres with the target of the IDPs
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and of course it also benefits the whole population hosting the IDPs.
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A pharmacist dispensing medication at the clinic,
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You know the conditions under which the IDPs are living in are very bad.
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Not only at the health facility where you can see most of them,
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but the living conditions under which they are living in the city,
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some households are hosting upto sixty people in one year.
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This is very tricky for them,
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and this is one of the reasons that led us to support, at the beginning of the COVID-19
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we created the COVID-19 treatment centre
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and now to create this new space in a way that patients can respect the prevention measures
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A pharmacist dispensing medication at the clinic,
against COVID 19.
