Mozambique's Ministry of Health has launched an ambitious oral cholera vaccination campaign, aiming to immunise 1.7 million people in just five days, in an operation that will run until 21 May and covers four districts of Nampula province: Nampula city, Murrupula, Angoche and Larde.
The initiative, announced this Tuesday, will involve all residents aged one year or older, according to Geraldino Avalinho, head of the Public Health Department of the Nampula provincial services. To reach the proposed target, more than 1,700 teams have been mobilised, each made up of a vaccinator, a registrar and a community mobiliser.
“The success of this campaign depends on broad coverage and the involvement of communities. That is why we have organised robust teams to go through neighbourhoods, markets and fairs, ensuring a door-to-door approach,” Avalinho explained at a press conference.
The decision to go ahead with vaccination comes in response to a climate of growing misinformation about the disease, which in extreme cases has resulted in violence. The official reported that two weeks ago, more than ten individuals tried to storm the home of Murrupula's chief medical officer, accusing him, without foundation, of spreading the disease. “It was necessary to mobilise security teams to avoid serious consequences. Fortunately, our colleague is well and unharmed,” he said.
Following the incident, the authorities have stepped up the presence of soldiers in the districts of Nampula and Murrupula as a preventive measure during the campaign.
Despite the end of the outbreak in Mogovolas district, officially declared this week, new cases continue to be reported in Nampula and Angoche. “We currently have four districts with active outbreaks,” the Public Health official said.
Since the outbreak began on 17 October 2024 in Mogovolas district, more than three thousand cholera cases and 39 deaths have been recorded.
