The Importance of Non-Governmental Organizations in Response to the Corona Virus Pandemic in Rural Mozambique: A Case Study COVID IN RURAL MOZAMBIQUE

Main Article Content

Angelea Panos, MSW, PhD http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4405-1454 Patrick T. Panos, MSW, MPH, PhD http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7617-7169

Abstract

Introduction/Importance: In response to the overwhelming public health demands of the COVID-19 pandemic, many communities were not served due to the shortage of medical supplies and access to healthcare, particularly in developing countries. Consequently, the World Health Organization (WHO) began an initiative to engage the "untapped resources" of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) /Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) working within various developing and underserved countries. In order to better prepare for future public health emergencies, it is critical to assess the experiences of CSOs/NGOs in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic in partnership with marginalized communities.


Objectives of Study: The primary research objectives of this study were (1) Document the challenges that the frontline NGO/community partnerships faced in responding to rural villages’ needs associated with COVID-19 within Mozambique, (2) Document the frontline NGO/ community partnership responses in addressing rural villages’ needs associated with COVID-19 in rural Mozambique.


Background: This case study examines the NGO Care-for-Life (CFL) within its partnership with rural villages in Mozambique in response to COVID-19. Care-for-Life is one of the few formally recognized NGOs in Mozambique that takes a holistic approach to community development in rural villages.


Methods: Data for this study was collected using qualitative methods, including in-depth interviews (26), focus group discussions (5), household surveys, and non-participation observation.


Results: Based on household surveys, villages with the CFL/community partnership experienced an approximate 4% increase in overall deaths during the pandemic, while surrounding villages without an NGO/ community partnership experienced an approximate 15% increase in overall deaths. The general findings strongly suggest that NGO/CSO community partnerships can have a significant impact on a community's ability to respond to a public health emergency.


Conclusions: The results of this case study suggest that the use of CSOs/NGOs during a crisis can enhance public health responses in emergencies such as pandemics.

Keywords: Africa, Mozambique, COVID-19, public health, rural communities, case study

Article Details

How to Cite
PANOS, Angelea; PANOS, Patrick T.. The Importance of Non-Governmental Organizations in Response to the Corona Virus Pandemic in Rural Mozambique: A Case Study. Medical Research Archives, [S.l.], v. 12, n. 10, oct. 2024. ISSN 2375-1924. Available at: <https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/5910>. Date accessed: 03 dec. 2024. doi: https://doi.org/10.18103/mra.v12i10.5910.
Section
Case Reports

References

1. World Health Organization. WHO COVID-19 dashboard| Cases. 2024. Updated August 4, 2024. Accessed August 19, 2024. https://data.who.int/dashboards/covid19/cases?n=o

2. World Health Organization. WHO COVID-19 dashboard| Cases. 2024. Updated August 4, 2024. Accessed August 19, 2024. https://data.who.int/dashboards/covid19/deaths?n=o

3. Judson SD, Torimiro J, Pigott DM, et al. COVID-19 data reporting systems in Africa reveal insights for future pandemics. Epidemiology and Infection. 2022;150:e119. doi:10.1017/S0950268822001054

5. Happi CT, Nkengasong, JN. Two years of COVID-19 in Africa: Lessons for the world. Nature, 2020; 601, 22-25. Published online January 2, 2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-03821-8

6. UN Sustainable Development Group. (2020, May 20). Policy Brief: Impact of COVID-19 in Africa. UN Sustainable Development Group; May 2020. Accessed August 19, 2024 from: https://unsdg.un.org/resources/policy-brief-impact-covid-19-africa

7. Heritage Foundation. 2021 Index of economic freedom|Mozambique. Accessed August 15, 2021 from https://www.heritage.org/index/country/mozambique

8. The CIA World Factbook. Mozambique. Updated August 7, 2024. Accessed August 16, 2021 from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/mozambique/

9. World Bank. The World Bank in Mozambique. Accessed August 15, 2021 from https://www.worldbank.org/en/country/mozambique/overview

10. World Health Organization-Africa. Health topics (Mozambique)| Essential medicines. Accessed August 16, 2024 from https://www.afro.who.int/countries/mozambique/topic/health-topics-mozambique

11. Isbell T, Bhoojedhur, S. (2019, May 7). Cyclones add to Mozambique’s public health challenge. Afrobarometer Dispatch. May 7, 2019; No. 297. Accessed August 20, 2024 from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332935718_Cyclones_add_to_Mozambique%27s_public_health_challenges

12. World Health Organization-Africa. Restoring essential health services after Cyclone Idai in Mozambique. Published July 5, 2019. Accessed August 23, 2024 from https://www.afro.who.int/news/restoring-essential-health-services-after-cyclone-idai-mozambique

13. Rodgers L, Fletcher G., Bryson M. Cyclone Idai: how the storm tore into Southern Africa. BBC.com. Published March 22, 2019, Access August 23, 2024 from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-47638696

14. United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA). Southern Africa: Tropical Cyclone Kenneth, flash Update No. 2. April 25, 2019. Accessed August 23, 2024 from https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/ROSEA_20190425_SouthernAfrica_TCKenneth_FlashUpdate_final%20draft.pdf

15. World Health Organization-Africa. As post-cyclone resettlement begins, 200000 people lack access to health services in Mozambique. June 21, 20219. Accessed August 24, 2024 from https://www.afro.who.int/news/post-cyclone-resettlement-begins-200-000-people-lack-access-health-services-mozambique

16. World Bank Photo Collection. (2019, May 19). The Beira Central Hospital whose roof was destroyed during Cyclone Idai. May 19, 2019. Accessed August 24, 2024 from https://www.flickr.com/photos/worldbank/40793489423

17. Brackett, R, Wright, P. In Mozambique, torrential rain keeps food, other aid from reaching Cyclone Kenneth victims. The Weather Channel. April 30, 2019. Accessed August 20, 2024 from https://weather.com/news/news/2019-04-25-tropical-cyclone-kenneth-mozambique?cm_ven=PS_GGL_DSA_09162019_1%26par%3DMK_GGL%26gclid%3DCjwKCAjw4KyJBhAbEiwAaAQbE28mPYeWDre-UTw9s7GUBvpuXssE0SFdN93Cqlip-LJ55te3UXnU5xoCi-UQAvD_BwE

18. World Health Organization. Community assets and civil society outreach in critical times: an initiative to engage civil society organizations in the COVID-19 response. World Health Organization, 2022. https://www.google.com/books/edition/_/vHoOEQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PP1

19. Baldé T, Billaud A, Beadling CW, Kartoglu N, Anoko JN, Okeibunor JC. The WHO African Region Initiative on Engaging Civil Society Organizations in Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Best Practices and Lessons Learned for a More Effective Engagement of Communities in Responding to Public Health Emergencies. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2023 Aug 8;17:e445. doi: 10.1017/dmp.2023.99. PMID: 37551088.

20. UN Development Programme. UNDP and civil society. 2024. Accessed August 20, 2024 from https://www.undp.org/partners/civil-society-organizations

21. Panos A, Panos P, Gerritsen-McKane R, Tendai T. The Care for Life Family Preservation Program: Outcome evaluation of a holistic community development program in Mozambique. Research on Social Work Practice, 2020; 30(1): 84-96. Published May 1, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1177/1049731519844324

22. Panos, P, Panos, A. Aftermath of Covid and Cyclones Idai and Kenneth: A naturalistic experiment examining empowerment and resiliency in rural Mozambique. Research on Social Work Practice, 2020; 3(5: 544-561. Published August 24, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1177/10497315221117547

23. Care-for-Life. Guide to the Family-Preservation-Program. Care-for-Life. 2012.

24. Mapsopensource.com. Accessed August 22, 2021 from http://mapsopensource.com/mozambique-map.html. (Creative Commons (CC) Attribution by 3)

25. Gereffi G. What does the COVID-19 pandemic teach us about global value chains? The case of medical supplies. J of Inter Bus Policy. 2020;3(3 ):287-301. doi:10.1057/s42214-020-00062-w

26. World Health Organization- Africa. World Health Organization: A case of COVID-19 confirmed in Mozambique. Published March 23, 2020. Accessed September 1, 2024, from https://www.afro.who.int/news/world-health-organization-case-covid-19-confirmed-mozambique

27. Esau I. (2020, April 1). Parliament approves state of emergency in Mozambique amid Covid-19 fears. Upstream. Published April 1, 2020. Accessed August 29, 2024 from https://www.upstreamonline.com/coronavirus/parliament-approves-state-of-emergency-in-mozambique-amid-covid-19-fears/2-1-786033?message=[nuxt]+instance+unavailable&stack&statusCode=404&statusMessage=[nuxt]+instance+unavailable&url=/coronavirus/parliament-approves-state-of-emergency-in-mozambique-amid-covid-19-fears/2-1-786033

28. UN-Habitat. Assessment of vulnerability and response to COVID-19 in the Municipalities of Mozambique. 2021. Accessed September 1, 2024 from https://unhabitat.org/assessment-of-vulnerability-and-response-to-covid-19-in-the-municipalities-of-mozambique

29. James S. How we’re working with Civil Society in Mozambique to slow and stop the transmission of Coronavirus. Aga Khan Foundation. April 17, 2020. Accessed September 3, 2024 from https://www.akf.org.uk/how-were-working-with-civil-society-in-mozambique-to-slow-and-stop-the-transmission-of-coronavirus/

30. Prista A. Efficacy of government laws to contain SARS-CoV-2 spread in Mozambique. J Public Health Afr. 2023;14(3):2218. Published 2023 Apr 20. doi:10.4081/jphia.2023.2218.

31. USAID. Mozambique| Global Health. Accessed September 3, 2024 from https://www.usaid.gov/mozambique/global-health

32. Jimenez MA, Daniel E. Mozambique’s response to COVID-19: Challenges and questions. IGC Blog. Published May 5, 2020. Accessed September 3, 2024 from https://www.theigc.org/blogs/covid-19/mozambiques-response-covid-19-challenges-and-questions

33. Amentie M, Morka A, Senbeta M, et al. Indigenous Knowledge of Medicine for COVID-19 or Related Disease in Benishangul Gumuz Regional State: Phenomenological Design. J Multidiscip Healthc. 2022;15:679-688. Published April 2, 2022. doi:10.2147/JMDH.S351328

34. Barletta G, Castigo F, et al. The impact of COVID-19 on consumption poverty in Mozambique. WIDER Working Paper 2021/94. Helsinki: UNU-WIDER. Assessed August 15, 2024 from https://www.wider.unu.edu/sites/default/files/Publications/Working-paper/PDF/wp2021-94-impact-COVID-19-consumption-poverty-Mozambique.pdf

35. Squarcina M, Egger E-M. Effects of the COVID-19 crisis on household food consumption and child nutrition in Mozambique. WIDER Working Paper 2022/169. Helsinki: UNU-WIDER. Assessed August 15, 2024 from https://doi.org/10.35188/UNU-WIDER/2022/302-4.

36. Krauss JE, Artur L, et al. To prevent this disease, we have to stay at home, but if we stay at home, we die of hunger’ – Livelihoods, vulnerability and coping with Covid-19 in rural Mozambique. World Development. 2022;151. Accessed August 15, 2024 from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0305750X21003727?via%3Dihub