The Mozambican government, through the Prime Minister, Adriano Maleiane, called yesterday, Monday (29), in Maputo, for an increase in the production of vaccines against cholera, warning of the unprecedented rise in cases of the disease in the world, which has already killed 38 people in the country since October last year.

Speaking at the opening of the first Conference on Transdisciplinarity for the Elimination of Cholera, Adriano Maleiane said that the Mozambican experience shows that vaccination campaigns, combined with other social measures, have a positive impact on the prevention and control of this epidemic.

"We are taking this opportunity to encourage and sensitize cooperation partners and other stakeholders to ensure increased production and availability of vaccines against this disease," emphasized Adriano Maleiane.

According to the government official, the mobilization of oral vaccines against cholera has allowed around 5.2 million people to be vaccinated in the districts most affected by cholera, from 2021 to the present.

However, despite this progress, he continued, "38 people died in the country from the disease between October 2023 and this July, out of a total of 16,000 cases of cholera, which corresponds to a mortality rate of 0.2%".

Cited by Radio MozambiqueMaleiane said that, in addition to vaccination, the country has focused on real-time surveillance, both internally and at the borders, increasing laboratory testing capacity, with the establishment of a network of provincial public health laboratories, and differentiated management of cholera cases, combining hospital treatment centers and community rehydration stations.

In this sense, the strategy, according to the Prime Minister, also focuses on strengthening community involvement, with greater intervention by community and religious leaders, as well as other social actors, in actions to raise awareness and educate the population on ways to prevent cholera.

For his part, the deputy representative of the United Nations Children's Fund (Unicef), Yannick Brand, warned on the occasion that since 2022, the world is experiencing a worrying increase in cholera and water-borne diseases, largely fueled by climate change.

Unicef's deputy representative pointed out that climate change is accelerating the risks of cholera and the deterioration in the level of health, well-being and survival of children and vulnerable communities.