Mozambique
Malaria is widespread in Mozambique. In some areas as many as 90% of children under five are infected with malaria.
With your help, NetsforLife® is working to get life-saving nets into remote areas of Mozambique to fight malaria.
Progress Indicators
- Nets distributed to date: 152,184
- Community members reached: 278,882
- Community volunteers trained: 890
- Nets to be distributed in 2011: 33,000
- Population:
- 21 million
- Reported malaria cases:
- 7.4 million
- Cases among children under 5:
- 15,000
- Reported Deaths:
- 19,000
Shortly after gaining independence from Portugal in 1975, Mozambique became embroiled in a 15-year civil war. The war claimed more than one million lives, and landmine injuries left an estimated 9,000 to 12,000 people with amputated limbs.
Today, Mozambique is one of the least economically developed countries in the world, ranking 175th among 179 countries on the United National Human Development Index.
Malaria in Mozambique
Malaria is widespread throughout Mozambique, as the climate allows for year-round transmission. Children and pregnant women are hit the hardest.
The estimated prevalence rate among children (ages 2 to 9) is between 40% and 80%, and in some areas as many as 90% of children under age five are infected with malaria.
Approximately 20% of pregnant women are infected with parasites, and almost 70% of pregnant women suffer from malaria-related anemia.
NetsforLife® Implementing Partner
The Diocese of Lebombo, which is part of the Church of the Province of Southern Africa, is situated in the southern half of the country of Mozambique.
The Rt. Rev. Dinis Singulane, bishop of Lebombo, serves as the chair of the National Roll Back Malaria partnership, which has provided a great deal of support from Mozambique’s Ministry of Health and other partners.
Hope Africa, the social-development department of the Church of the Province of Southern Africa, is providing technical support and training to the Diocese of Lebombo to build its capacity to implement the malaria program.
Areas Impacted
NetsforLife® is focusing on the rural areas immediately surrounding the capital of Maputo and the city of Xai Xai. The combined factors of civil war and drought over the years have resulted in significant migration of people to these cities along the coast.
- Clergy and church leaders have spearheaded the rollout of the program in communities.
- Malaria agents have been trained in six communities: Maputo, Umbeluzi, Limpopo, Maciene, Inhambane and Pungue.
- Each of these six communities has held sensitization workshops for residents.
- Because of the challenge of poor roads, NetsforLife® is partnering with truck and tractor owners and operators to get the nets out into the rural communities.