Mozambique has continued to struggle with floods. Recently in 2008, over a hundred thousand were forced to leave their homes in the midst of overwelming rainfall. The year 2000, was one of the worst for these individuals living in Mozambique. Over 800 died between the months february and march.
However, there is another penetrating issue also facing the civilians of Mozambique-Cholera. Fernanda Teixiera, the Secretary-General of Mozambique's Red Cross, expresses his concern, "This year is worse than previous years, even worse than years in which we had floods. There are more cases and the fatality rate slightly higher." Over 12,00 cases and 157 deaths in Mozambique; 92,811 cases and 4,077 deaths in Zimbabwe; 3,033 cases in Nampula and 2,427 cases in Cabo Delgado. There are many causes to these horrific numbers. Mainly the poor sanitation and constant rainfall have a large part for the spread of Cholera. Less than fifty percent of the 21 million people living in Mozambique have safe drinking water available to them.
This problem is not recent, it has been influencing the lives of Mozambique people for years. This photograph (Salgado, 233) is located in a refugee camp in Malawi, 1994. Many times, when mothers died from the Cholera epidemic, it would be the responsiblity of another woman to take in the abandoned children. It would appear that many mothers had twins because of the close relationship in age of the children. This woman pictured, has taken on the responsibility of caring for anothers' child. This battle of Cholera continues. With the increase in sanitation and the decrease in the amount of rainfall-this disease will be better controlled. However, many individuals in rural ares often do not seek for assistance or have the opportunity to be blessed with health care. By the time they finally do, it is many a times too late.
Works Cited:
"Mozambique: Worst Cholera Outbreak In A Long Time." African Press International (API). Web. 26, March. 2009.
Mannak, Miriam. "Mozambique: Floods Threaten Hundreds Of Thousands Of People." Time. NowPublic, 1 Jan. 2009. Web.
However, there is another penetrating issue also facing the civilians of Mozambique-Cholera. Fernanda Teixiera, the Secretary-General of Mozambique's Red Cross, expresses his concern, "This year is worse than previous years, even worse than years in which we had floods. There are more cases and the fatality rate slightly higher." Over 12,00 cases and 157 deaths in Mozambique; 92,811 cases and 4,077 deaths in Zimbabwe; 3,033 cases in Nampula and 2,427 cases in Cabo Delgado. There are many causes to these horrific numbers. Mainly the poor sanitation and constant rainfall have a large part for the spread of Cholera. Less than fifty percent of the 21 million people living in Mozambique have safe drinking water available to them.
This problem is not recent, it has been influencing the lives of Mozambique people for years. This photograph (Salgado, 233) is located in a refugee camp in Malawi, 1994. Many times, when mothers died from the Cholera epidemic, it would be the responsiblity of another woman to take in the abandoned children. It would appear that many mothers had twins because of the close relationship in age of the children. This woman pictured, has taken on the responsibility of caring for anothers' child. This battle of Cholera continues. With the increase in sanitation and the decrease in the amount of rainfall-this disease will be better controlled. However, many individuals in rural ares often do not seek for assistance or have the opportunity to be blessed with health care. By the time they finally do, it is many a times too late.
Works Cited:
"Mozambique: Worst Cholera Outbreak In A Long Time." African Press International (API). Web. 26, March. 2009.
Mannak, Miriam. "Mozambique: Floods Threaten Hundreds Of Thousands Of People." Time. NowPublic, 1 Jan. 2009. Web.
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