At least 120 people have died from cholera throughout Mozambique since January, Ministry of Health spokesperson Leonardo Chavane said on
Wednesday.
”It is sad that such [an] episode happens … nobody should die from cholera and also it is inadmissible that people die while trying to help the community in preventing the onset of the cholera epidemic,” said Chavane in response to e-mailed questions.
His comments come at a time when residents of the northern province of Nampula, where 15 people have died from the disease, are refusing to drink water treated with chlorine, alleging it caused them to contract cholera.
Assertions by the villagers that water treated with chlorine was causing cholera in the area has resulted in mobs taking to the streets targeting health workers and volunteers from the Red Cross who were teaching the communities about how to prevent cholera.
The riots have resulted in the death of four Red Cross workers and two police officers and have led to more than 30 volunteers from the Red Cross fleeing the country.
”We believe that the cause of this rioting and misunderstanding could be a result of politically motivated actions.
”Some political people try to gain visibility within the community by bringing ideas that cholera is manufactured by government officials.
”By doing so they think they can have political gains. This message is easily believed by the communities with low literacy levels and they
begin to act against the government officials,” said Chavane, without naming the political group he was accusing.
He, however, said the Ministry of Health was working with community leaders to ”address the misunderstanding”.
”This campaign is meant to lead the community to understand and establish the link between cholera and hygiene and poor sanitation.
”We choose to work with the community leaders due to their … decision-making ability in their communities,” he said.
Chavane refused to comment on the death of 12 prisoners in Mogincual district in Nampula province on Tuesday morning. They died in police cells after they had been arrested for their part in a demonstration against Red Cross volunteers and government health workers.
”We can’t comment on this issue, as it is not our responsibility as the Ministry of Health to manage detainees,” he said. — Sapa