At least four health centres have been closed in the district of Mogovolas, in the northern province of Nampula, following acts of vandalism in recent weeks. The local health authorities confirmed the closures and expressed concern about the impact on the response to the cholera outbreak affecting the region.
One of the closed units is the health centre in the town of Nametil, which was vandalised on 4 March. ‘The health centre is still closed, because this time they burnt down the pharmacy and the laboratory. We have to analyse the situation to find ways to replace the necessary equipment and raise awareness among the community, as this is the second time the centre has been the target of vandalism,’ said Selma Xavier, Nampula’s provincial health director.
According to the official, unknown individuals set fire to essential areas of the hospital unit, compromising care at the district’s main reference centre. She also reported attacks on the homes of health professionals, a situation that has generated fear among the workers.
‘That’s why we still don’t have a definite date for the reopening of the health centre. At the moment, some professionals have been transferred to health centres that are still operational, while others have returned to the city of Nampula,’ Xavier explained.
The interruption of health services comes at a critical time for the province, which has been facing a cholera outbreak since October 2024. The provincial director warned that the closure of health units could contribute to an increase in cases of the disease.
‘We’re talking about the district most affected by cholera. The closure of these units worries us a lot, because cholera is a public health problem and should be contained as quickly as possible,’ he said.
Since the outbreak began, Nampula province has recorded 30 deaths and almost a thousand infections. The latest data points to a significant increase in cases since the end of February, with nearly 400 new infections, bringing the cumulative total to 929 cases and 31 deaths.
The National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD) indicated that, in addition to Mogovolas, cholera is still active in the city of Nampula and in the districts of Murrupula and Larde. The health authorities warn of the urgent need for measures to contain the spread of the disease and guarantee the resumption of health services in the affected areas.
The closure of the health centres comes against a backdrop of social unrest in the country, with demonstrations and protests since the 2024 general elections. The protests, initially large-scale, continue to take place on a smaller scale in various parts of Mozambique, with demands linked to the rising cost of living and the contestation of the election results.
According to the non-governmental organisation Decide, which monitors the electoral processes, at least 357 people have died and around 3,500 have been injured since the demonstrations began. The government has confirmed 80 deaths and the destruction of 1,677 shops, 177 schools and 23 health centres during the protests.
