by Larissa Sousa
The Gorongosa Restortion Project and UN-Habitat, in collaboration and coordination with the Provincial Health Directorate (DPS), held a meeting to validate the proposed interventions for the resilient (re)construction of 6 health centers alongside the District Health Services, Women, Children and Social Action (SDSMAS) of the 6 districts in the PNG Buffer Zone.
The interventions are part of the Resilient Infrastructure project funded by USAID and with technical assistance from UN-Habitat, in response to the events of Cyclone Idai and which aims to improve the preparedness response of communities and reduce vulnerabilities.
The meeting was attended by the representative of the Provincial Health Directorate, District Health Directors – SDSMAS of the Buffer Zone, members of the PRG and representatives of UN-Habitat. The objective of creating consensus and alignment among key actors in implementing the project was successfully achieved.
It was discussed and agreed that the 6 centers will benefit from so-called impact interventions that include:
-energy supply in clinical services;
-water and sanitation;
-waste management through the construction of an incinerator;
-construction of a so-called evolutionary block that includes clinical maternity services and non-clinical services at the waiting mother’s home;
-rehabilitation of existing blocks so that they can accommodate more services as well as employee homes.
All of these interventions will promote the reduction of infections and better operationalization of services provided to the population, with special attention to the health of women and children.
After the practical exercises, there was a field visit to the Púnguè Health Center, in the District of Gorongosa to involve representatives of the Health Centers in a participatory manner so that the proposed interventions are exposed and agreed upon by the beneficiaries, also taking into account the climate change challenges and adaptation to better strengthen infrastructure and resilience in the Buffer Zone.
