Lift up cyclone-devastated families in Mozambique

Mozambique continues to suffer from repeated cyclones and floods.

In addition, after floods, sanitation conditions deteriorate and the outbreak of infectious diseases such as cholera increases.

PWJ is currently conducting hygiene awareness-raising activities in Govuro District, Inhambane Province, which was affected by the outbreak of cholera after Cyclone Freddy.

We would like to share the stories of people who actually contracted cholera.

I'm Rosália, a resident of the KM18 village, here in the district of Govuro.

In April, I was infected with cholera, and almost lost my life to the disease because it took so long for help to reach me.

It all started on the banks of the Save River, I was in my farm working as usual, when I saw a young man coming to the river in a great hurry, and as soon as he reached the riverbank, he started vomiting.

I got worried and went over to him, as there was no one else around to help him. I asked him what was happening, and he couldn't explain what was going on either, he just said, “my stomach is hurting a lot, I cannot go back home alone. Could you take me home?”

I didn't know what to do, as you can see, I don't have enough strength to carry a man, that's why I immediately went to the road to ask for help, when three young men came to help him...

But when these 3 young men arrived, they hesitated to touch the sick young man, because they already had information that cholera case had already confirmed in the district. I didn't know what was going on, so insisted that they take the sick man to health center. But they said, “we're going to call someone from the health committee member in the nearest community to provide first aid before going to the health center, because this young man could lose his life before reaching the health center, and we don't want to be blamed for that.”

Before long, the health committee member from the nearest community arrived with some measurements and swallowed them into the mouth of the sick young man. I left the place to go home, because I had to make lunch for my granddaughter.

I got home and everything was fine, but in the evening of the same day, I started to feel pain in my stomach and nausea. I immediately began to vomit and have diarrhea. My stomach hurt a lot and I kept running to the latrine. I soon realized that I had contracted cholera from that young man. It was dawn, and I could no longer get around. But due to the time (dawn), I couldn't send my granddaughter to ask for help.

So I had to cry out loudly to get the neighbors’ attention, it took a while but people came and they called the health committee member. They gave me the medication and the next day they took me to the health center.

I confess that I no longer had any hope that I could live, I'm already old and my immunity is running out. Now, I just thank God for saving me from this disease, I think I still have a while to live.

Rosario smiled strongly.

For approximately USD13, a cholera prevention kit can be distributed to one household.The cholera prevention kit includes three bottles of chlorine disinfectant for drinking water, two buckets, one bottle of chlorine for disinfection, one bowl and one jug for hand washing.

Peace Winds Japan is distributing cholera prevention kits to communities and teaching them how to properly wash their hands.

From December, the rainy season starts again, when cholera transmission is more likely to spread.

Your help in preventing cholera before it breaks out would be greatly appreciated.