Publications

This manual is a compilation of different materials about the “GRAVITATIONAL METHOD USING BÓRAX, an alternative to the use of mercury in the artisanal extraction of gold", produced as part of the implementation of the projects “Reducing the negative impact of artisanal mining on individual, community and environmental health” and “Artisanal Mining: Environmental and Cultural Rights in Cabo Delgado Province”, implemented by medicusmundi and Centro Terra Viva, with funding the Generalitat Valenciana and the European Union, respectively.

Access to quality health services is crucial for good and balanced health. This report aims to provide solid scientific evidence about access to the health system in Mozambique and the social inequalities that affect that access. For this purpose, a descriptive and multivariate analysis of the Family Budget Survey (IOF is the Portuguese acronym) of Mozambique 2014/15 was carried out, with regard to health needs, severity of diseases, use of health services and reasons for non-use,  problems with the quality of received care and direct payments.

Environment I is a module that provides basic and elementary knowledge about caring for the environment. The document contributes to generating significant positive and responsible change, particularly in Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining sites.

From 10 to 13 September 2019, a survey of the health services' functioning processes, needs and response took place, in the Montepuez district, in order to reduce and prevent malnutrition. This evaluation involved the participation of several district services (SDSMAS, SDPI, SDAE, SDEJT), Health Committees and caregiving mothers from four randomly chosen villages. The results of this diagnosis are now made known by medicusmundi and reveal, as the main aspects contributing to the high rates of malnutrition in Montepuez, the following: low access to food, shortage of funds to acquire them, poor knowledge about nutrition and consumption of inappropriate water.

In December of last year, Montepuez hosted an important meeting of the Multisectorial Group in order to define the joint Action Plan to improve the response of its Programs to Combat Malnutrition. The Group, made up of the District Health Services (SDSMAS), Planning and Infrastructure (SDPI), Economic Activities (SDAE) and Education, Youth and Technology (SDEJT), had previously participated, in September of the same year, in a diagnostic study led by medicusmundi to assess the problems and needs associated with malnutrition. The Plan that is now made known prioritizes the training and qualification of teams and the implementation of actions such as the development of community education materials, the promotion of debates, campaigns and culinary demonstrations, the opening of fish tanks, among others. It is also worth mentioning the creation of a Technical Group to ensure better supervision and coordination of all activities.

Environment II is a training module that provides basic and elementary knowledge about environmental management in areas degraded by artisanal mining, in order to contribute to generating significant positive and responsible changes in the environment in which mining activities are carried out. This module complements the Environment I, Knowing and Caring for Our Environment brochure.