30th September 2005Major Developments: • The National Disaster Management Institute (INGC) has started preparations for the Calamity Reduction week to be held from 5-12 October 2005. School competitions and extra-curricula activities are planned as part of a countrywide effort to raise awareness among school children on the importance of preparedness and mitigation actions • National immunization campaign activities continued in September, to vaccinate almost 9 million children against measles. The campaign is being carried out by around 5,000 staff responsible for vaccination and related activities, and an additional 33,000 activists and social mobilisers, who are working together to ensure that children in the most remote areas are reached. The campaign also includes vaccination against polio for children aged 0 to 59 months and the distribution of Vitamin A to all children aged 6 to 59 months. The second round of polio immunization was organised to take place one month following the first round in each of the three regions of the country: northern, central and southern. • Paralysis: A total of 16 cases of severe paralysis (13 children and 3 women) have been reported in Mocuba district of Zambezia province. The cause of paralysis was food poisoning due to harmful hunger food consumption.
• Cholera: The Ministry of Health (MoH) reported a total of 16,000 cases around this time in 2004 and 12,400 cases during 2003. Cholera figures reported this year are much lower than 2004 during similar periods (see table left): however cholera (which is endemic) normally surges from November to May during any given year. Outbreaks can therefore happen any time in at-risk provinces such as Zambézia, Nampula and Sofala.
According to the information provided by the local authorities, the community of Mapira, also located in Maganja da Costa district, is severely affected by drought with around 1,625 people not having access to safe water and food. Health and Nutrition: The Ministry of Health will undertake a nutritional survey (Weight/Height) in the first week of October 2005 in drought-affected districts of all provinces, in order to establish a more detailed nutritional baseline. UNICEF is supporting this assessment through technical support to the development of the methodology and supplies. The results of a cholera/food poison field investigation in Sofala and Zambézia indicate an urgent need to revise the MoH emergency plan and figure of people possibly affected. Education: Based on assessment of sites in Zambézia (Maganja da Costa district), UNICEF identified 13 primary schools in Nante (with 4,864 students) for hygiene education and WES activities. UNICEF has been participating in collecting and analysing basic data and information on the dropout and attendance rates of pupils in districts affected by drought in the country. So far, it has not been possible to obtain data from all districts due to the remoteness of schools in affected localities. The results will assist the Ministry of Education, UNICEF, WFP and other partners to establish/reinforce sentinel site systems in affected districts for monitoring attendance rates of pupils and teachers. Special Protection: The results of a study on Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) are available from the provinces of Gaza (Chicualacuala, Xai-Xai city and Chibuto), Sofala (Chibabava, Gorongosa, Maguda) and Nampula (all districts). The study teams are still working in Maputo, Zambézia and Manica provinces to conclude the surveys in these areas. This information will provide a baseline for the establishment of mechanisms to ensure that vulnerable groups are targeted for humanitarian assistance. UNICEF Response: Health and Nutrition: The national immunisation campaign targeting 8.7 million children was launched in Maputo on 6th April 2005. The campaign activities continued in September 2005: (1) second round for polio in the North from 5-9th Sep 05 (2) second round for polio in the Centre from 9th-23rd Sep 05 (3) first round of polio, measles and Vitamin A in the South from 5-10th Sep 05. To date in 2005, a total of over 500 health workers have been trained in all provinces on the updated protocol for the in-patient treatment of severe malnutrition with support from UNICEF. The second round of training focused on the provinces with drought-affected districts, including Gaza, Inhambane and Nampula. UNICEF has supplied anthropometric equipment and other supplies and is in the process of procuring ready-to-use therapeutic food (RUTF) for phase two outpatient treatment, a pilot community therapeutic care project with USAID and for paediatric AIDS patients.
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