According to Health Minister Ivo Garrido, the national hygiene and sanitation campaign, launched at the beginning of 2008, has succeeded in creating a series of “model institutions” across Mozambique, such as Angonia Municipal Market in the western province of Tete, the Vanduzi health centre in the central province of Manica, and the Morrumbene Primary School in the southern province of Inhambane.

Garrido stated that these institutions followed basic hygiene rules, provided access to clean water, and had decent sanitation facilities for their workers. The idea is that these model institutions would set an example of good hygiene and sanitation to be followed by others and, says Garrido “multiplication of these examples will help eliminate the practices which give rise to diarrhoeal diseases, including cholera"

Cholera outbreaks have been reported from eight of Mozambique's 11 provinces. Only Gaza, Sofala and Cabo Delgado have no reported cases. Since October 2008, about 1,000 cases of cholera have been diagnosed, but the health authorities say that the situation is under control.

Source: Agencia de Informacao de Mocambique / allAfrica.com, 22 Dec 2008

Tags: africa, hygiene promotion, school sanitation, water-related diseases