Publications

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.

In August 2019, the Namuno district underwent a study to identify the needs and problems that contribute to the high rate of malnutrition in the population. Based on the results obtained, medicusmundi, together with the Multisectorial Group, defined an Action Plan to improve the capacity to respond to this problem. The working group involved different District Services (SDSMAS, SDPI, SDAE and SDEJT) and NGOs such as the Wiwanana Foundation, SolidarMed and the World Food Program (WFP). The improvement of collaboration and information sharing on the different actors was one of the aspects that deserved greater attention, resulting in the creation of a Technical Group to ensure joint planning, data crossing and more effective action in communities. Among the activities defined, training and awareness-raising activities are highlighted, namely lectures and campaigns on nutrition, culinary demonstrations, radio debates and the creation of nutrition groups in schools. It should also be noted the need to assess the levels of production and nutritional security in the community and to form water committees.

Associations and legislation are part of the objective of making the artisanal mining activity more dignified. One of the vectors used to achieve this objective is the promotion of associations among mining operators. Therefore, in a nutshell, this brochure presents the main aspects of associativism.