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Short Report – Special Collection: Climate Change
How did primary health care in Beira experience Cyclone Idai?
Submitted: 21 April 2022 | Published: 01 November 2022
About the author(s)
Christian L. Lokotola, Department of Family Medicine, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South AfricaTibo Uyttersprot, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
Priscilla Felimone, Provincial Health Service of Sofala Province, Beira, Mozambique
Charlotte Scheerens, Department of Economics, Ghent University, Gent, Belgium; and The United Nations University Institute on Comparative Regional Integration Studies (UNU-CRIS), Bruges, Belgium
Abstract
Beira, the biggest city of Mozambique’s Sofala province, was struck by Cyclone Idai on 14 March 2019, with devastating impacts. The floods along with the cyclone destroyed road infrastructure and health facilities and disrupted primary health care (PHC) service delivery. In addition, destruction of farmland and food stocks resulted in malnutrition; the abundance of water fostered the reproduction of mosquitos, exacerbating the burden of malaria; and problems with water and sanitation led to epidemics of cholera. The exact role and contribution of human-induced climate change is very difficult to quantify, but there is little doubt that climate change is driving more frequent and severe cyclones, such as Idai. Considering the current climatic changes, it is expected that climate hotspots such as Beira will only experience more frequent extreme weather events. In these settings, with high risks but low adaptive capacity, dedicated efforts are required to strengthen PHC with a focus on preparedness for disasters. This should entail community awareness and education, strengthening infrastructure and service provision, as well as collaboration with important stakeholders across other sectors.
Contribution: Using a case study approach, this article contributes climate resilient PHC for better preparedness to service continuity.
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