Idai hit Sofala late on 14 March. Just two weeks later a cholera outbreak was declared in four districts – including Beira, the capital, home to 600,000 people. From then till 5 May, 6,739 suspect cases and eight deaths were reported.

In response, from 3 to 9 April, the Ministry of Health ran a mass vaccination campaign in those districts, reaching 800,000 people over the age of one! This was a huge technical and operational effort – which, in addition to mobilising health teams, vehicles, vaccines and more, included borrowing cold boxes from other provinces so vaccines would be stored and transported at the right temperatures.

The campaign has significantly reduced cholera transmission – only 21 suspect cases and no deaths between 29 April and 5 May! Great work – particularly when you consider many of the health workers involved in the campaign were themselves affected by the cyclone!

Now a similar effort is planned for three districts in Cabo Delgado, the province in northern Mozambique torn into by cyclone Kenneth on 25 April. The campaign is targeting around half a million people.