Health

In the Guludo area average life expectancy is 38 years old and 30% of children do not survive to their 5th birthday.

Malaria
Although a preventable and treatable disease, malaria is the number one child killer in Mozambique.

Every day 125 children die from malaria, giving Mozambique one of the highest child mortality rates in the world.

Using insecticide treated mosquito nets can reduce child mortality by 20%. In 2007 and 2008 over 4,400 nets were distributed through workshops to each woman in 6 villages who were either pregnant or had children under 5 years, resulting in over 10,000 people sleeping under nets. Now, in 2010 we are expanding this project to reach every women who has a child under 5 in ALL 12 villages.

Nutrition
Over 56% of people living in Cabo Delgado province are chronically malnourished. The most vulnerable are in rural areas where they have no alternative but to rely on their crops. Malnourishment stunts children’s development and weakens defences against disease, making it a significant underlying cause of child mortality.

Nema’s community health volunteers are running nutrition workshops in every household in 4 villages and an agricultural technician is helping each family create small kitchen gardens.

HIV / AIDs
Every day 102 children are infected with HIV in Mozambique and less than 3% will receive treatment.

The majority of new infections occur in young people, with girls aged between 15 to 19 years three times more at risk than boys of the same age.

A new local drama group have been trained and are performing wonderful dramas illustrating the dangers of HIV. Their reception have been incredible with whole villages turning up to watch. We will also just starting to run HIV workshops, distributing condoms and will soon start showing HIV awareness films. 2010 will see the start of our school/football project will start to raise awareness with the youth.

Mother & Infant Care
Over two-thirds of women in rural areas give birth without the assistance of skilled health professional putting themselves and new babies at risk. We have a new project starting now is for a trained midwife to visit pregnant women in 4 villages to provide them with health advice and support throughout pregnancy, birth and their infants’ development.

Hygeiene & Sanitation
We have run 3 consecutive hygiene and sanitation workshops were run in every household in 4 villages to fight against the spread of diarrhoeal diseases. As a result over 50 household latrines have been built. This year the project is being expanded and further assistance given to families in building latrines.

Health Survey
In July 2008 the first ever extensive health survey was conducted in our area of work by Nema. This will enable us to monitor and develop our health projects.

Supporters
Funds and support for these projects have come through the lodge, Global Angels, GKN, Jojo Maman Bebe and past guests.