In Cabo Delgado – Mozambique, we are giving support to the Provincial Health Directorate (DPS-CD) in developing an essential tool for the promotion of health in the Province: The Action Plan for Health Promotion.
This Action Plan is intended to include a special innovative component in the Mozambican context: activities aimed at risk prevention in extractive industries, an emerging activity with exponential growth in the province over the last years.
This Extractive industry causes water, air and soil pollution with devastating effects in the medium…
The impact of this extractive industry on the health of the population is not visible on the short run, but causes water, air and soil pollution, with devastating effects in the medium and long term, alongside the poor working conditions. Therefore, we should be watchful and, without delay, start to take preventive measures aa well as establish dialogue and facilitate mutual support between companies and government, so as to improve the health of the affected population.
Building upon the National Strategy for the Promotion of Health 2015 – 2019, issued by the Ministry of Health (MISAU), this joint initiative by the DPS-CD and medicusmundi has gone further. On completing five-weeks’ fieldwork in the districts and after holding workshops within the communities with the involvement of the extractive companies and those NGOs working for health and the environment, as well as the authorities of the Province, the Plan has been discussed at a Seminar hold in Pemba last December 21st
A number of government bodies, several provincial directorates, such as the Directorate of Labour, the Directorate for Women and Social Action, the Directorate of Education, the Directorate of the Environment, Sports and Youth Affairs, among others, participated in the Seminar. In addition, the Seminar was attended by representatives of national and international development cooperation, as well as the extractive industry companies in the area. A joint decision was taken between all of them, one which has gone further than expected: The Action Plan for the Promotion of Health in the Province will be a tool of the Provincial Government, of all its sectors, not only the healthcare sector. Therefore, this new Plan shall be passed by governmental decision in the near future. No doubt this will be a step forward within the coordinated work conducted in order to progress in the enhancement of people’s health, since health has to be promoted not only through the healthcare sector, but in every area of life.
Maria Sachetti
Coordinadora de medicusmundi a Cabo Delgado, Moçambic
Translated from Catalan into English by Silvia Aymerich
