§ Mr. KeyTo ask the Minister of State, Department for International Development what assessment the Department has made of the recent cholera outbreaks in Mozambique; and if he will make a statement. [116621]
§ Hilary BennCholera is endemic in Mozambique and outbreaks occur annually and may sometimes develop into severe epidemics. DFID supports the Ministry of Health through planning and budgeting mechanisms and the annual plan contains a budget line for emergencies of this kind.
The Ministry of Health, together with its partners—DFID included—have developed an established and relatively efficient response to cholera and other epidemics. Over the last few years, the Ministry of Health has become well equipped and capable of managing outbreaks with less and less support from cooperating partners.
DFID is providing specific support to a research project in the Ministry of Health to establish a predictive model for cholera epidemics using simple environmental and social indicators, based on which it will be easier to support cost effective prevention of cholera through action on environmental health interventions, improved community responses to epidemics, and vaccine delivery.