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Feature: Cholera rumors cause violence in northern Mozambique

Xinhua, March 2, 2015 Adjust font size:

For health and police authorities in northern Mozambique, it is not new that dealing with cholera is a sensitive issue, not only because of its risk to the population but for the violence against local chiefs, medical officials caused by rumors blaming them for bringing about the disease.

In northern Nampula province, police arrested 13 suspects last week for involvement in a beating that had killed a local chief.

Fernando Cardoso Manuel is the director for social affairs, women and health in Erati district where the incident occurred.

He said there were rumors among the population that the chemical products, which the victim stored at home, could spread cholera.

"What I know is that the rumor had spread, and a group of people went to the local chief's house with sticks and other cold steels. They hit him badly until they found his death," said Manuel.

Victor Borges, governor of Nampula province, confirmed the death of the local chief when he visited the district, saying "the government was unable to prevent such tragedy from happening".

"We have to collaborate with local authorities to disseminate messages against the rumors," said the governor.

Similar violence happened in Cabo Delgado province, where local residents burnt down treatment centers accusing health authorities of spreading cholera in their community.

The Mozambican Ministry of Health in February announced that the entire country had been hit by cholera, which has led to over 20 deaths and more than 2500 cases nationwide.

Such violence caused by rumors has been seen in recent year's cholera outbreaks.

In 2009, residents in Nampula's Mogincual district locked three volunteers from the Red Cross in a house and set fire on it, which killed one of them. Other volunteers later abandoned the area.

To prevent such violence, the Ministry of Health has been investing in campaigns for dissemination of messages about cholera, explaining to people that chemical product used by officials to purify water is not cholera, but what meant to fight against the disease.

"The ministry is working to help people understand everything about cholera, unfortunately there are people taking advantage of the disease to serve their own purposes," said Julio Mendes, press official of the ministry.

Borges said some political parties are using people's panic and anger to create chaos.

The Ministry of Health said it is cooperating with international organizations in the fight against the disease, including the United Nations Children Fund, the World Health Organization and the Doctors Without Frontiers. Endi