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FPAM Curtails Health Effects in Flood Survivors’ Camps in Nsanje

Mozambican who was brought back on ART being assisted Mozambican who was brought back on ART being assisted - pic by Alfred Guta

Floods survivors who are still in camps in Nsanje say various interventions they have been accessing under Family Planning Association (FPAM) cyclone- ANA response, have been critical in minimizing health effects of the disaster.   

Sexual reproductive Health Services (SRH) HIV Testing and Treatment, Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI’s) screening, Cervical Cancer screening, Post-Abortion Care and Immunization include the interventions they are accessing.

Noria Gresham aged 30, a mother of three, from Gamba village in the area of Traditional Authority Mbenje in Nsanje, told Zodiak online that she has been able to access family planning services at Bangula ADMARC camp.

“I have been here since January 25, 2022, after we were displaced by floods. Life has been hard as we did not manage to save anything. Our house was completely damaged forcing us to move to this camp.

“Nevertheless, I commend the provision of health services such as family planning. They have been critical in preventing unwanted pregnancies. I go for Depo contraceptives, so far I have never experienced complications.

“We are living a healthy life besides it has eased the burden and responsibility in supporting our family,” explained Noria.

Patricia Kingsley 27 from Kalenso village, is also a beneficiary of such interventions.

“The floods hit us at around 9pm so we sought shelter somewhere before moving to this camp in the morning.

“I suffered from malaria and I was able to access treatment here. Medics from Nsanje District Health Office attended to me. The situation was horrible I could have lost my life if it were not for the timely assistance,” said Patricia.

She added “the environment here poses a health risk hence the need for us to continue accessing medical care within the camp.”

Mozambicans who are at the camp are also benefitting from the FPAM interventions.

Agnes Mario 25 a mother of three from Nyakabanda village told Zodiak online her life as well as those of her husband and her child could have been in danger.

“I am on Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) so the floods hit us at night. We stayed in a mango tree for 2 days before being rescued by relations. We lost everything including my drugs.

“I stayed here for a month without taking the drugs it was risky as I was not feeling well as a result. I raised the issue to medics who made an effort put me back on treatment.

“My husband and child were also tested here and are all on ART,” explained Agnes.

She added, “My husband and I are also accessing family planning services, so as to avoid unwanted pregnancies.”

FPAM Communications and Advocacy Officer, Faith Kantambe Kadzanja, told Zodiak online, “we are doing this to minimize health effects of disaster to affected population and also to help them settle back into the community without exposing them more to health related stress,” explained Kadzanja.

She said through the three month project, FPAM with funding from International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) is supporting Nsanje, Chikwawa and Phalombe districts with resources to conduct cluster meetings.

“So far we are very happy with the response and we haven’t heard cases of women getting pregnant in camps. We are sure that the intervention is working, in such a situation getting pregnant is another burden,” said Kadzanja.

She added, “From IPPF the support is for three months hoping that maybe we are going to get addition funds then we will continue if people will still be in camps we will consider extending.

“We are also receiving funding from UNFPA so depending on our discussions we will see how best we can handle it, we might also extend the gesture.”

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Last modified on Wednesday, 01/06/2022

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