Mozambique: MSF responds to cholera outbreak in the aftermath of cyclone Freddy

The cyclone affected some 1.2 million people in the country, 750,000 in Zambézia according to the United Nations reports. On 16 March, local authorities declared an outbreak of cholera in Zambézia, when some 350 new cases were reported within 24 hours.  

In addition to the destruction and displacement, Freddy contributed to an increasing number of cholera cases in Zambézia because it destroyed water infrastructure. A total of 123 health facilities were also destroyed, posing additional constraints in access to healthcare in the province.

Cholera is caused by a water-borne bacterial infection of the intestine, and is transmitted through contaminated food or water, or through contact with fecal matter or vomit from infected people. Cholera can cause severe diarrhoea and vomiting, and rapidly prove fatal, within hours, if untreated.

Within second half of March, the Ministry of Health reported around 8,000 cumulative cases of cholera in Zambézia, from which 3,100 had been admitted in health facilities. Dozens of deaths have also been reported due to cholera. 

On 16 March, when the outbreak was declared in Quelimane, Zambézia’s provincial capital, there was only one cholera treatment centre (CTC) with a capacity of 17 beds.

To address the needs, MSF teams were promptly deployed to Quelimane to support the provincial health services. Within a week, MSF had strengthened the capacity of the existing CTC to 49 beds and established a new one with  190 beds. MSF also established two smaller cholera treatment units (CTU) with about 15 beds each, in Icidua and Mecajune neighbourhoods. At present, the facilities have a combined capacity to admit up to 269 patients. In the first days after they were set up, the facilities rapidly reached full capacity.  

At cholera treatment facilities, MSF is working alongside health authorities, and is providing support with case management of patients, training to medical and non-medical staff, recruitment of support staff, and donating medical equipment and medicines. These include 150 cholera beds, 1,000 doses of antibiotics, 10,000 litres of Ringer Lactate for intravenous rehydration of severely sick patients, and 80,000 doses of oral rehydration salts.

MSF is also engaging in health promotion activities, including the dissemination of prevention and response messages on the radio in local languages and production of awareness raising materials. In total, some 11,000 flyers and posters being distributed across the city.  

The main challenges in the response to cholera in Zambézia are related to access to clean water, hygiene, and sanitation. By the end of March, there was still no running water in Quelimane, a city of around 420,000 people - which causes significant constraints in catering for basic needs, including hygiene.

There is an urgent need to assess and treat water sources in Quelimane, considering water is one of the main sources of contamination. Restoring water services should be complemented with strong community engagement activities to raise awareness on the importance of treating water to prevent cholera. 

On 30 March, provincial authorities launched a cholera vaccination campaign targeting over 410,000 people in Zambézia. In total, the Ministry of health has ordered over two million cholera vaccines to be distributed across the country in 2023.  

From 14 September to 1 April, there were close to 22,500 cases in the country and 100 deaths according to the Ministry of Health.