Mozambique
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has been working in Mozambique for 40 years, filling crucial healthcare gaps, such as in treatment for HIV, and assisting people affected by conflict and natural hazards.
MSF wraps up three-month emergency response to Cyclone Chido
When Cyclone Chido hit Mozambique’s northern province of Cabo Delgado on 15 December 2024, extreme winds and flooding caused widespread destruction, prompting MSF teams to launch an emergency response. Three months on, we look at the impact of the cyclone on people’s lives and on the region’s struggling health services, neglected after seven years of conflict.
Our activities in 2024 —
outpatient consultations
malaria cases treated
individual mental health consultations
people receiving HIV antiretroviral treatment
In Cabo Delgado province, 580,000 people remained displaced due to ongoing conflict and unrest.
Our teams continued to provide healthcare through community-based activities and support to health facilities in the districts of Palma, Mocímboa da Praia, Macomia, Mueda, Muidumbe, and Nangade.
In May 2024, Macomia was attacked by an armed group; MSF’s warehouse was looted, and our cars stolen. This attack and the increased insecurity forced us to suspend our work in Macomia town, temporarily cease running our mobile clinics and outreach activities in the district, and reduce some services in other areas of Cabo Delgado.
In December 2024, we launched an emergency response in the Mecúfi and Nanlia districts of northern Mozambique, following the devastation caused by Cyclone Chido, which affected over 680,000 people. Our response focused on providing lifesaving emergency healthcare, mental health support, rehabilitating damaged health facilities, and restoring essential water, sanitation, and hygiene services.
In Nampula province, MSF teams diagnosed and treated neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) at rural health centres, and provided blood transfusions for people suffering from severe malaria. In November, we launched a surgery campaign in Nametil to assist patients with hydrocele, a complication of filariasis, an NTD which causes an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the testicles. We performed surgical activities during the first weeks of the month; however, we had to suspend all activities in Nametil by the end of November due to escalating security incidents.
In Sofala province, our team in Beira worked with the Ministry of Health and local organisations to deliver sexual and reproductive healthcare, including safe abortion care for vulnerable and stigmatised groups, treatment for people with advanced HIV, and support for addressing antimicrobial resistance.