Recognising Mozambique’s vulnerability to the effects of climate change and the high burden of climate-sensitive diseases, such as the ones transmitted by insects like malaria and dengue, we decided to start a new project in Nampula province. In this region, malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) such as schistosomiasis and lymphatic filariasis are particularly prevalent and the area is also prone to extreme weather events. The health needs are high and there are considerable gaps within the local health system for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of NTDs and for treating patients with severe malaria.
Local communities are telling us that malaria, which used to be seasonal and appear mainly during the rainy season, is now making people sick all year around. The rains appear to have changed over the last decade to now occur during a shorter period of time, but releasing more quantities of water in heavier and more intense rainfall, resulting in the creation of lots of little lakes in which mosquitoes breed throughout the year. The heavy rains also wash away crops and impact agricultural yields, affecting food production and people’s income.