A new tropical storm, sweeps across Mozambique. Bad Flooding that favour diseases such as Cholera threaten. In March there 800,000 people were vaccinated within a period of only ten days. With Success.
In the Southeast African country of Mozambique, the second severe tropical storm, cyclone “Kenneth is raging within a few weeks”. In March, a cyclone had caused severe damage and led to huge Floods, there was a massive Cholera outbreak.
Deutsche Welle: A Cholera outbreak in Mozambique by the end of March as a result of the devastating Floods was relatively quickly under control. A very positive message. Why did it work so well?
Anja Wolz: There are now four weeks after the official outbreak of the Cholera epidemic, and most of the Cholera centres, we have already closed. What we have seen, on the one hand of the Cholera-vaccination campaign works very well. 800,000 of the vaccinations we had very quickly, within the next ten days, the population is distributed, and they were also really brought in the remote areas.
More: disaster preparedness in Mozambique
Anja Wolz is working in Beira, Mozambique for Doctors without borders
The second point is, of course, that the population here knows of Cholera. The people could react to it and knew what should be done. And then, of course, was in the beginning, after the cyclone, the water system in the city of [Beira] collapsed. After the water system was repaired, we have seen that the cholera cases are on the decline. It has also worked hard to ensure that clean water was issued to the population.
I think [the success was] a Combination of different factors – starting with the vaccination campaign organized by the government. [The health authorities have identified] cases. And the Affected could also go directly to the treatment centers. Water was prepared. I was already a woman in many Cholera-in use, but for me, it was very surprising that we have brought in more or less four weeks under control.
More: Mozambique: “Some people have not eaten in four weeks”
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After cyclone Idai, with more and more cases of malaria in Mozambique
So this did not work for other disasters around the world. It is also a great logistic performance. What was different this Time?
There are very many organizations locally that have also tried to help the Ministry of health. We of Doctors without borders, vaccines have been associated with four helicopters in the various municipalities. The Ministry of health has mobilized many employees. And there are often massive vaccination campaigns. Volunteers from the Red cross have participated in the vaccination campaign.
And the people wanted to have the vaccinations. We had to motivate people to get vaccinated. We have already seen on the first day of the vaccination campaign. There will be more people were there than we had vaccinations. Fortunately, everything was very well organized. This has me puzzled also. I have great respect for the Ministry of health and the government of Mozambique.
Who carried out the vaccinations?
We of Doctors without borders have helped, especially on the technical side and the logistics. For example, we had motorcycles, we the vaccinations to the municipalities. We have our volunteers went into the communities and explained what is Cholera. We have also helped with the cold chain, which must be observed. Since we have worked with the Ministry of health.
More: Mozambique gears up for fight against Cholera
Effective Against Cholera: Clean Drinking Water. Here, an employee of the German THW in the case of a sampling in Mozambique.
There are still municipalities with over 100,000 people who have not been reached yet. This is the last information we have. We also travel with boats in different communities, and just today, we have clinic-helicopter, fly in communities, in the as yet nobody came to help.
The second Problem is the diet is of course. Many communities have lost their harvest, and, of course, it is a large logistical Problem to bring the food to the people. That’s why we see as Doctors without borders, the threat of malnutrition as a Problem. We will now try to identify with our mobile clinics, we have patients in a timely manner and ensure that they get special treatments.
Another Problem could be the Malaria. We also work with the Ministry of health. We spray houses with insecticides and distributing mosquito nets. We hope that we will not get as many Malaria patients.
Of course, it is still a Problem that many health centres were destroyed. Patients have difficulties to come to the next health center. And we are dealing with here in Beira HIV-positive patients. After the cyclone, many people did not get their medications.
What can learn from other organisations experiences in Mozambique?
It is perhaps too early to be able to really learn something. But the government of Mozambique has been very active and has sent experts here and it was good to cooperate with you. There is a lot of friction, but all of them were here and only have had a goal to help the people here. And that was now the most Important thing and it is just well done.
Anja Wolz is an emergency coordinator for the aid organization Doctors without borders. Currently, she works in Beira, Mozambique
The Interview was conducted by Gudrun Heise
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Beira: After the destruction, before the reconstructionLarge Construction Site Beira
Six weeks after cyclone Idai Beira is still a construction site. Almost all of the roofs were blown away or damaged. The world Bank estimates the total damage to the three affected countries, Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi, on 2 billion dollars.
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Beira: After the destruction, before the reconstructionLife without a roof
Also, the roof of Andre Lino was blown away, a new one he can’t afford. Since 1977, Lino lives with his family here – only 100 meters from the beach. “The sea is coming closer,” observed Lino. “It scares me.” If he had enough money he would move away.
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Beira: After the destruction, before the reconstructionThe sea comes closer
Parts of Beira’s are below the level of the sea, again and again it came in the past to the consequences of severe Flooding. And other disasters: the scientific intergovernmental panel on climate change, the United Nations estimates that sea levels will rise by 2100 is expected to add 40 to 80 inches.
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Beira: After the destruction, before the reconstructionFragile huts on the sea
Especially the residents of the poorer parts of the city such as Praia Nova hits the hardest. Their huts are going to be broken very quickly. Due to the cyclone, many fishermen have lost also their boats.
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Beira: After the destruction, before the reconstructionWater management project against Flooding
In the city centre was therefore built a few years ago, millions, miles of channels and tidal structures, also with German development assistance funds. The German development Bank KfW funded the construction of 13 million euros.
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Beira: After the destruction, before the reconstructionLess damage thanks to lock
“On the day of the cyclone, the rain has started,” says Eduardo Dos Santos, who operated the lock. “So we have opened the floodgates, the water could back flow into the sea. We could not have done this, there would have been in the city for even worse Flooding.“
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Beira: After the destruction, before the reconstructionThe mayor is fighting against climate change
“The flooding we are already accustomed to,” says mayor Daviz Simango. “But a cyclone was new for us, we must react to it now.” Simango organised in June a donor conference in Beira. He hopes there to collect more money, to guard the city against climate change.
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Beira: After the destruction, before the reconstructionCleanup continue to go to work
Until then, the city administration tries still eager to re-establish order. In Parts of the city there is electricity and running water. But still all areas from the debris of the natural disaster are not eliminated.
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Beira: After the destruction, before the reconstructionVoluntary advance
Volunteers such as Magdalena Louis to support the construction work. Since weeks it is in use, gets of the town for just a day lunch. “I just want our city to be clean again,” says Louis. “ You must pay me, nobody.“
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Beira: After the destruction, before the reconstructionRefugee Camps in the city
Everywhere in the city, relief organizations from around the world. There are still thousands living in tents, relying on food donations. The health situation is tense: a Cholera outbreak, there is a rise in cases of Malaria threatens.
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Beira: After the destruction, before the reconstructionNo harvest, no food
Outside of Beira in addition, large parts of the Crops were destroyed. “The whole Corn, whole rice: all is lost,” says the distraught Farmer, Elisa Jacques. The 61-Year-old tries to plants re-seed. But at the earliest in six months, you will be able to feed her family.
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Beira: After the destruction, before the reconstructionDistraction in the stadium
But there are also signs of everyday life and normality. A friendly game of the local team DG da Companha Têxtil do Punguè attracts hundreds of visitors – although the roof of the municipal stadium has been the victim of cyclone Idai.
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Beira: After the destruction, before the reconstructionA Step In The Direction Of Normality
Those who can’t afford the admission, to find creative solutions. Around the stadium, Parking minibuses and vans as improvised Free-stands. Next weekend, the League is expected to go operation. A further step in the direction of normality in Beira.