20 February 2008

As central Mozambique recovers from its worst-ever flood, emergency workers are trying to contain an outbreak of cholera which has affected more than 600 people in Mutarara district, Tete province. Ten people have died.

ActionAid is working with the government and other agencies to improve hygiene in the resettlement camps where many of the 100,000 people evacuated from the floods are still living in tents or simple shelters.

Paulino Timana, who is managing ActionAid's water and sanitation work in the flood area, said: "Latrines, clean water and soap can stop the spread of cholera, but only if people understand the importance of hygiene. They also need to understand that there is a simple treatment that saves lives."

ActionAid has bought 430 rolls of plastic sheet, each 50 metres long and two metres wide, which will be used by relief agencies to construct walls for up to 1290 latrines. The Mozambique government is providing ten tons of plastic latrine bases.

Two water tanks installed at Dziwe Dziwe by ActionAid will be left in position and refilled daily. Though Dziwe Dziwe is no longer in use as a transit camp, this decision was taken after local villagers were seen taking water from the river and washing dishes at the riverbank.

Using theatre and radio to spread the message
Besides providing tanks for drinking water and materials for emergency latrines, ActionAid is using theatre and radio to persuade camp residents to take simple measures to protect their own health.

ActionAid has commissioned a theatre group to tour the camps with a show which uses song, dance and humour to inform audiences about the disease. Grupo de Teatro do Oprimido - Maputo (Maputo Theatre of the Oppressed) has begun its tour with performances in the Dziwe Dziwe area, the Bawe-Sede resettlement camp, the new Bawe-3 camp and the marketplace in Mutarara town.

The Mutarara community radio station is putting out two half-hour broadcasts a week on behalf of ActionAid. One is in the national language, Portuguese, and one in the local language, Chisena. Recent broadcasts have included information about hygiene and cholera prevention. Camp residents can hear the broadcasts on Freeplay Lifeline radios distributed by ActionAid. Powered by solar cells and clockwork, the radios need no batteries or mains electricity.