Brief Break in Rains, Threat of Malaria in Mozambique

Posted: 9 March 2007

Oxfam delivers clean water, latrines while keeping an eye on water levels in rivers.

While water levels appear to be receding in some flooded areas of Mozambique, there is still rain falling in Zambia and water is accumulating in the Zambezi River and Cahora Bassa Lake in Tete province. March is normally a rainy month in this area, so there is still a threat of more flooding.

Oxfam continues to provide assistance to displaced people in Sofala Province. Over the past week Oxfam has carried out these activities:

Oxfam distributed 900 mosquito nets to respond to an upsurge in malaria in the Morromeu district.
In the Chupanga camp Oxfam continues to deliver clean water by truck, and has distributed soap to an additional 787 people in the last week. This is contributing to an improvement in personal hygiene in the camp.
892 mosquito nets were distributed to 446 families this past week; total nets distributed now exceed 3,000.
Oxfam has now installed a total of 182 latrines, including 50 in the last week. Each group of latrines is staffed by one attendant, with a lantern at night.
There are now 16 hand washing facilities with soap installed near the latrines.
To date 1,640 Oxfam buckets have been distributed to all households in the camp, and to schools.
Trained volunteers are holding hygiene education sessions twice a week in the camp school, targeting unsafe hygiene among children. School and community hygiene education groups are forming, and will provide entertainment to convey key hygiene messages through theatre performances.

Farther west in Caia district of Sofala, Oxfam is mobilizing to assist 3,508 people (about 799 households) displaced by flooding who do not have enough clean water, adequate sanitation, and are experiencing high incidences of malaria and diarrhea. Oxfam plans to construct latrines, distribute household items, blankets, and mosquito nets, and train volunteers to promote better hygiene.

Oxfam’s current $1.9 million humanitarian flood relief program in Mozambique is designed to help 40,000 people.