World Health Organization

Department of Emergency and Humanitarian Action

______

Situation in Mozambique

Sitrep # 4

Date: 29 March, 2001

Highlights:
  1. No epidemics are reported
  2. Expected : increased risk for cholera and malaria
  3. Needed: drugs for diarrhoeal diseases, including cholera
  4. Needed: malaria control measurements
  5. Needed: water and sanitation control activities
  6. Needed: to cover essential health needs of the displaced population, including replenishment of essential drugs

I. Impact/Assessment:

Provisional baseline figures:

Indicator / Result (source: WHO)
Population denominators: /
  • About 200,000 IDPs in 70 temporary accommodation centres in Tete, Manica, Sofala and Zambezi provinces

Number of deaths: /
  • 77

Number of injured:
Health services damage: /
  • in flooded areas health services are inaccessible, extent of damage is being assessed

Assessment ongoing (WHO/UNDAC)

The Government is to lead a mission assessment next week to plan the post flood resettlement and rehabilitation phase. WHO will be present to assess the following topics:

  1. Access to health facilities including health infrastructures status, essential drugs and minimum health staff required.
  2. Existence of malnutrition among children under five.
  3. Increased number of epidemic prone diseases like malaria, measles, meningitis, dysentery, diarrhoeas, cholera and existence of awareness activities related to HIV/AIDS in the accommodation centres.
  4. Existence of epidemiological surveillance system for the IDPs.
  5. Access to safe water and quantity and presence of good sanitation like minimum latrines and waste disposal.

Risk/Evidence-based information on the health situation:

Indicator / Risk
Epidemics reported: / NO
Epidemics due to presence of unburied dead bodies: / NO
Outbreak of Typhoid Fever: / NO
Increased RISK of sporadic cases of water-borne diseases: / YES
Outbreak of Cholera: / NO
(increased number of cases)
Outbreak of Malaria: / NO
(increased number of cases

Evidence-based Assessment of Needs/NO-needs:

Indicator / Risk
Need for mass immunization campaigns: / YES (measles)
Need of foreign medical teams: / Yes to support partners in health activities the co-ordination
Need of specialized care: / NO
Needs of Field Hospitals: / NO
Need of drugs and supplies: / YES quantity and forms for children
Kind of supplies most needed: / anti-malaria drugs, bed nets for malaria prevention
Need of diseases surveillance and verification of rumours: / YES
Need of emergency water and sanitation measures: / number of latrines and litters of water insufficient according to IDPs number
Need to address vital priorities: / Rapid nutrition assessment, transport for referral cases
Type of PHC services which need to be re-stored for addressing vital needs:

II. UN:

UN Consolidated Inter-Agency Appeal:

  • On 21 February the Government of Mozambique launched an appeal for emergency assistance to respond to the developing flood crisis in provinces of Zambezia, Sofala, Tete, and Manica .To assist the Ministry of Health initially US $ 5,900,000 is needed.
  • A UN Interagency appeal is being prepared that will support and complement the needs of the Ministry of Health.

UN Coordination and Assessment Mechanisms:

III. WHO now in Mozambique:

  • The UN will discuss preparing a common monthly report Friday 30th at 10. The emergency public health co-ordinator currently supporting in Beira will participate to this meeting for WHO.

IV. WHO Actions(more consolidated information than the preceding sections):

1. Financial Resource Mobilization:

  • WHO/HQ is launching a USD 1,370,000 appeal in addition to the UNICEF and UNFPA contributions to the appeal.
  • WHO with support from Italy sent to Beira (arrival on 10/3/01) the following kits: 4 trauma kits (2 kits A and 2 kits B), 7 New Emergency Health kits (general profile), 14 kits diarrhoea and cholera (7 kits D and 7 kits F).

2. Health Partnership and Sector Coordination

Some problems of co-ordination to be addressed

  • Partners distribution in the various health post
  • Co-ordination between NGO and Government staff

V. WHO Direct Contacts

  • WHO/Country:Dr. S. Kouo Epa, WR-Mozambique, Tel: 258-1-49 8048

Dr. P. Kahozi, DPC/WHO -Mozambique, Tel:258-1-49 1991, Fax: 258-1-49 1990, e-mail:

  • WHO/Region/EHA :Dr. A. Chellouche, EHA focal point, Tel: 3-21-733 92 03,

e-mail:

  • WHO/HQ/EHA:Dr. R. Bu-Hakah, Medical Officer, Tel: 41 22 79 2988, Fax: 41 22 791 4844, e-mail: , or

Dr Luzitu Simao, Technical Officer, Tel: 41 22 791 2720,

e-mail:

Note:

  • WHO/EHA website:
  • For general and operational information reference is made to the corresponding UNOCHA sitrep (OCHA Sitrep # 1 - 10) and for obtaining emergency-related maps and non-health information, visit ReliefWeb, the UN site for humanitarian affairs: