Mozambique: Sexual and reproductive health services boosted in wake of Storm Ana

Making landfall on 24 January in Angoche District in the coastal province of Nampula, Storm Ana tracked westward toward Zambezia and Tete Provinces, leaving behind widespread flooding, damaged and destroyed homes, leaving basic services cut off.

Sofala, Niassta, and Cabo Delgado Provinces were also hit, but less extensively. 

Downstream from major river basins, with a lengthy coastline and low topography, Mozambique is vulnerable to flash flooding and a target of cyclones. In 2019, it was hit by Cyclones Idai and Kenneth within weeks of each other.

Collapsed houses and schools 

According to the latest data released by the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management (INGD), the storm grim statistics include at least 38 killed, 207 injured, 12,000 houses in ruins, as well as 26 health centres, 25 water supply systems, 138 power poles, and about 2,275 kilometres of roads damaged.

Flooded crops have raised concerns about food security, and nearly 300,000 students no longer have schools to attend. 

“My house collapsed on top of me, after I managed to take my children out,” said Florinda Culosa, 48, in Mocuba District. The house Ms. Culosa shared with six children and two grandchildren is gone. “I feel very sad about losing my house”, she added.  

Strengthening services 

In the aftermath of the storm, UNFPA is working with the government to strengthen sexual and reproductive health and protection services for the most vulnerable populations, particularly women and girls of reproductive age (15-49).

The 180,869 people affected by the storm includes an estimated 43,409 women of reproductive age and 5,127 pregnant women who will continue to need reproductive health services. 

“On the night the storm hit, in the maternity ward we assisted a mother as she gave birth to triplets, while the health centre was flooding and intense wind was ripping away parts of the roof,” said Filomena Aibo Joao, maternal and child health nurse at Alto Benfica Health Center in Mocuba District.

“The situation was scary, but we were very lucky, the mother and three babies survived”, she continued.  

Mobile units have been deployed to provide sexual and reproductive health services, including contraceptives and maternal health medicines, in remote affected areas. In Tete Province, mobile clinics quickly resumed sexual and reproductive health and family planning services in communities isolated by floods.  

Distribution of dignity kits

UNFPA is distributing thousands of dignity kits to vulnerable women and girls to support their menstrual hygiene, sanitary and female dignity needs as well as tents that will allow damaged health centres to continue providing care. 

After Noemia Hortênsia, 19, lost her house, belongings, and rice crop in the small village of Magica, she and her children went to the resettlement site of Sopa Parreirao, where she received one of more than 200 dignity kits that had to be transported by canoe because of the storm-damaged road and bridge. 

“My house fell because of the flooding. I was afraid that it was going to fall on me or on my son and daughter,” she said. “We lost everything.”