MSF response to cyclon Idai in Buzi - April 2019

Buzi, a town in Sofala Province, Mozambique was incredibly hard hit but the flooding associated with Cyclone Idai. In the days and weeks that followed the town was completely cut off from the outside, with some people forced to hide on roof tops or in trees and wait for helicopters and boats to rescue them as flood waters swept through the town causing huge amounts of damage. During this period many of the town’s residents were evacuated to Beira as well as from Guaraguara village (8 km west of Buzi) and are now living in shelters.

The MSF team first reached those stranded in Buzi by helicopter on 25 March and immediately sent teams to support the health center which was badly damaged by the cyclone, and planned to start water and sanitation activities as well as rehabilitating the hospital. On 27 of March, the government officially declared a cholera outbreak in Beira so in order to be ready for a possible outbreak, MSF built a cholera treatment unit. As of today, with water levels dropping, and people slowly starting to return to Buzi (now accessible by road), the risk of someone importing cholera is high and MSF is already treating several cases of acute watery diarrhea which is suspected to be cholera

The team is also conducting mental health and health promotion in the community as well as working with the staff of the health center to get the it back up and running, with focus on perinatal care. So far three pregnant women at risk have been referred by helicopter to Beira. The midwife has also provided support to local health staff to provide ANC, PNC and nine safe delivery.

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