Lift up cyclone-devastated families in Mozambique

In March 2024, the tropical cyclone Filipo made landfall in Mozambique, causing damage to many people, healthcare facilities (health centers), and schools in several provinces, including Inhambane Province. In 2023, Inhambane Province was also severely affected by Cyclone Freddy, and subsequently an outbreak of cholera occurred, with many people contracting the disease and some deaths occurring.
From March to August 2024, Peace Winds Japan worked with the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) to distribute hygiene kits to 300 affected households and repair and restore the water supply facilities and latrines at health centers in Inhambane Province.

We also supported the health centers in providing 189 mobile clinic visits to rural areas, providing vaccinations for children, antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV-positive patients, general medical care, and awareness-raising activities related to cholera prevention and countermeasures. As cholera had occurred the previous year, we provided training to the technical officers from each health center on cholera case management and prevention, so that they would be able to respond quickly in the event of a future outbreak.

Through the radio, we repeatedly informed the community about cholera prevention measures, hygiene knowledge, and the need to use healthcare services, and we also held workshops for pastors and traditional healers who had a lot of influence over the people because of the many false information and superstitions about cholera, and we communicated correct knowledge to them. In fact, we confirmed the effect of this by seeing families who had listened to the radio coming to the mobile clinic.

In Mozambique, due to the La Niña phenomenon in 2024, the rainy season from October 2024 to March 2025 is expected to bring normal or above-normal rainfall to the south and central regions, including the Inhambane province. People there are preparing to prevent of cholera and AWD in the possible natural disasters such as flooding or cyclones.

An affected old woman who received a hygiene kit was grateful for it, as she need money on repairs to her house and couldn't afford hygiene items. She also appealed to use chlorine in water properly.