Covid in Nhamatanda, Mozambique
Written by Grant Clarke, IDYP Vice-Chair
Edited by Elena Pesina, IDYP Treasurer & Ra Uniyaal, Communications and Awareness Co-Chair
Our August IDYP Blog covers a quick video chat with Grant Clark from IDYP and a former colleague of his Orlando, from Mozambique. Grant is a civil engineer by trade who has worked around the globe on disaster response and recovery projects, including in Nhamatanda, Mozambique in 2019 where All Hands and Hearts (an American based NGO) were re-building schools following the devastation of Cyclone Idai. Orlando, the community coordinator for this project, lives near Nhamatanda and he gives an update to Grant on the COVID situation in his home country as well as a rundown on his latest work project.
Bringing to you our conversation
Grant: Orlando! Mano (Sir)! How are you my friend?
Orlando: Mano!, Oh man, great to talk to you, since our project finished up last March I have not been able to find work! It’s been really hard on my family and my friends, but we are staying strong! I miss all of the people from the project and all of the fun times we had building schools in the wet season haha!
Grant: Sorry to hear that it’s been tough to find work, I too miss all of our friends from project. The COVID pandemic has wreaked havoc all around the world, how is the situation in Mozambique?
Orlando: I too keep up with the news amigo, and this COVID thing, wow! With the COVID situation in Mozambique there are have been over 100,000 registered cases, but we only have a few testing centres across this country of millions of people, so we don’t know the true figure. The only places you can get tested is in our major cities like Maputo and Beira, and no one can afford to get there! There have also been over 1,000 known deaths. In Mozambique most of our schools are closed and the economy is bad, really bad. I know of a few family friends who have recently passed away, but with Cholera, Typhoid, Aids, Malaria and other illnesses effecting our day to day life, we don’t know for sure the extent of COVID in our community.
Grant: I’m very sorry to hear, and yeah I understand it wouldn’t make sense to travel 100’s of km’s in public transport to get tested would it! What have you been doing to pass the time?
Orlando: Mano I’ve been looking for work since last April and I was also hoping to take up a scholarship this year to study in Washington DC in the US, but it’s postponed due to COVID, I hope I can make it next year! For now, I’m looking to set up an online teaching course teaching Portuguese to English native speakers and English to Portuguese native speakers! I am offering video call courses at affordable prices and can cater for beginners, intermediate and advanced. I have my place all setup ready to go!
Grant: I love your spirit and I will pass your details onto my friends who may be interested in these language courses! Any other country updates?
Orlando: Currently in central Mozambique there is violent political conflict and civil unrest and there's also continued conflict in the north near the border of Tanzania, our neighbours to the north. Same problems as when you were here! Luckily my family are healthy, my friends are well, and life will continue for us.
Grant: Speak soon, Obrigado
The devastation of COVID has led to most international development projects in Mozambique either being postponed or cancelled and aid workers returning to their home countries. Equally with lockdowns across the country, other avenues of work have also dried up. Looking at the Worldometer data for Mozambique Orlando is spot on and there have been over 1,000 registered deaths and over 100,000 registered cases, but with a country population of over 30 million and limited resources to effectively slow the virus, it’s difficult to know the true number, nor the true damage of the COVID pandemic. Setting up testing centres throughout the country is a complex and expensive exercise. For a country that sits at 181st out of 189 countries on the HDI (Human Developmental Index), it is a cost that simply isn’t feasible at this time.
Note: Orlando can be contacted about his language courses via his whatsapp: +258 864 889 078 or his email: orlandobuzi2@gmail.com