Cholera Response Mozambique 2023

Project completed

A cholera crisis is spreading across Southern Africa. Malawi is undergoing the wost crisis since years. Numerous cases have also been diagnosed in Mozambique, where the epidemy is developing very fast since January 2023 . This contribution aims at containing the spread of the outbreak through Infection and Prevention Control (IPC) measures as well as medical treatment of people affected by cholera in Mozambique.

Country/region Topic Period Budget
Mozambique
Health
Water
Climate change and environment
Basic health infrastructure
Water sanitation
Water supply
Disaster risk reduction DRR
Health education
Medical services
Infectious desease
Primary health care
07.02.2023 - 31.07.2023
CHF  1’000’000
Background The overall geographical spread of the current cholera outbreak in Mozambique is greater than usual and most of the affected districts had not reported cholera cases for more than five years. The number of infections is rising fast. The overall risk at the national level is very high due to the country's exposure to tropical storms and cyclones, the limited preparedness and response capacity and the presence of 1 million vulnerable Internally Displaced Population (IDP) in the region.
Objectives Reduce the spread of cholera through IPC measures, mitigate its impact through medical treatment and contribute to the reduction of mortality and morbidity rates in Niassa province. Prepare for possible spillover into the neighboring Cabo Delgado province, including building resilience to possible overlapping natural disasters.
Target groups

-    Cholera affected population in Niassa and population living in hot spots (response/coordination);

-    Residents and IDP in Cabo Delgado (preparedness).

Medium-term outcomes

Preparedness:

People have access to information on how to protect themselves and others from infection with cholera.

Response:

People have better access to water, sanitation and hygiene and (in case of infection) to diagnosis and treatment.

Coordination:

Authorities and actors involved in the response plan, target and coordinate their action.

Results

Expected results:  

Key outputs of the planned phase Prevent spread of cholera infection through Health and Risk Communication aiming at improving WASH behaviours of communities.

-    Ensure early/rapid response activities, enhance early warning surveillance, timely laboratory confirmation, improve case management and infection control, strengthen water, sanitation and hygiene, and provide essential supplies.

-    Support coordinated and integrated response activities, based on response actors' operational capacities and epidemiological analysis of outbreak course, including contact tracing, incidence, case fatality rate, attack rate and mapping areas with contaminated water at household level.


Directorate/federal office responsible SDC
Project partners Contract partner
International or foreign NGO
  • Other international or foreign NGO North


Other partners

-    UNICEF for the overall coordination, the response and the WASH longer term infrastructure improvements MSF for the operational response

-    IF-RC for the coordination and communication with volunteers in the field (using the national red cross society)

-    SolidarMed for preparedeness in Cabo Delgado

Coordination with other projects and actors

The activities funded under this project are aligned with the efforts coordinated by the Global Task Force on Cholera Control and with the National Cholera Plan currently developed by the MOH in collaboration with FRC and WHO. SDC is already involved in the cholera response through its development program (GoTAS). In Niassa, the latter program has made a first re-allocation of CHF 100,000 to support the government in the emergency response. Similar discussions are currently taking place in Cabo Delgado through the SDC-funded Cabo Delgado Health Promotion program.

SDC has already been planning a secondment to IFRC to support a cholera eradication plan.

Budget Current phase Swiss budget CHF    1’000’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF    948’338
Project phases

Phase 1 07.02.2023 - 31.07.2023   (Completed)