In less than a week, Mozambican health authorities registered five more deaths from cholera across the country and half a thousand new cases of the disease, according to official data from the Ministry of Health.
According to the most recent bulletin on the progression of the disease, prepared by the National Directorate of Public Health and with data up to January 7th, a total of 8,793 cases of cholera had been recorded in the country since October 1st, with 25 deaths, plus five deaths compared to data up to January 2nd, when there were still 8,266 cases recorded.
The fatality rate caused by this outbreak rose in five days from 0.2% to 0.3%, according to the bulletin, which identifies at least 26 districts with active cholera cases and one (Mocuba, Zambézia) as having “high risk”.
The province most affected by the current wave of this cholera outbreak is Nampula, with a total of 2,814 cases and 12 deaths, followed by Tete, with 1,853 cases and six deaths.
Today is the second of five days in which a vaccination campaign once morest cholera is taking place in nine districts of Mozambique, those most affected by the current outbreak of the disease, expected to reach more than 2.2 million people.
According to information from 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 (province of Cabo Delgado), Gilé, Gurué and Mocuba (Zambézia) , Mágoe, Moatize and Zumbo (Tete) and Maringue (Sofala).
“The country is responding to the resurgence of the outbreak that has been occurring since October 2023”, points out the National Directorate of Public Health.
“The target group for this intervention is 2,271,136 people, corresponding to the population living in the most vulnerable areas and the focus of the current outbreak”, states the same information.
He adds that “so that the campaign runs smoothly and the objectives are achieved”, 1,136 teams were mobilized for this operation, with 7,337 elements, including vaccinators, mobilizers, recorders, supervisors, coordinators, data entry staff, logisticians and drivers, among others. others.
“Also, around 1.3 million US dollars was mobilized to carry out the campaign. This value includes funds from the Government and Cooperation Partners”, he further acknowledges.
The implementation of the campaign envisages vaccination at fixed stations in health units and using mobile brigades in previously established locations with the highest population concentration, such as markets, football pitches, rally sites, headquarters of administrative posts, 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 duplications or failures and allow for better post-campaign evaluation”, vaccinated people will receive a card, “as proof of vaccination and that they must keep it”.
