Fast Forward: Mozambique in 10 years

Ellen Waters is the Director of Development at Doctors of the World UK. She is passionate about access to healthcare around the world and spent four years in India working for human rights organisations.   On Thursday 14th March, Cyclone Idai swept Mozambique, leaving behind it a trail of destruction and death. Organisations from all around the world mobilised in just a few hours to get help to the population hit. Rapid intervention is key to save lives, but there is an often hidden need to provide healthcare for a long time after the disaster, while reconstruction takes place. On World Health Day, I want to bring the focus on the importance of primary and mental health care post-emergency. They will be a key determinant to how Mozambique will be 10 years from now. Over 120,000 people live in temporary camps today in Mozambique. The sight of rows upon rows of blue tents is now a familiar one, but what we often don’t realise are the health risks associated with living in these conditions. For the survivors of Cyclone Idai, their health and wellbeing is still not guaranteed. Living in tents in close proximity, in unhygienic settings, with no drinkable water and little access to a doctor, there is a high risk of outbreaks and epidemics. In Mozambique, we are working against the clock to contain a cholera outbreak caused by lack of clean water, and we are increasingly worried about malaria. https://www.doctorsoftheworld.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Antonio-Cabrer...
Source: Doctors of the World News - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Authors: Tags: Uncategorised Source Type: news