Malaria, Pneumonia, and Diarrhea: An Urgent Challenge to Child Health in Tete

By: Denise Dimande, Communication and Advocacy Officer 

In Tete Province, in Mozambique, children remain dangerously exposed to preventable diseases such as malaria, pneumonia, and diarrhea—three of the leading causes of child mortality in Mozambique. This reality is worsened by limited access to quality healthcare services, widespread child malnutrition, and low levels of health literacy in many communities.

Every day, children fall ill from drinking unsafe water, sleeping without mosquito nets, or simply because their families do not have access to timely medical care. These illnesses, though treatable and preventable, continue to tear families apart. In remote areas of Tete, the journey to a health center can take hours. For many children, that delay can mean the difference between life and death.

As part of efforts to tackle this public health crisis, the Rotary Healthy Communities Challenge Project is training local activists to engage directly with communities, raising awareness and promoting behavior change. One of these trained activists is Estílio Orlando, a resident of Doa, who shares a personal testimony:

"I have suffered from these diseases myself, and I see how they continue to harm my community, especially malaria. It is a constant threat to our children."

Malaria, transmitted by mosquito bites, is a major cause of hospitalization among children. Pneumonia often arrives silently but quickly weakens a child's ability to breathe. Diarrhea, often dismissed as minor, can cause life-threatening dehydration within hours. Yet all of these diseases can be stopped, with clean water, hygiene education, mosquito nets, breastfeeding support, vaccines, and access to essential medicines.

With access to accurate information, community engagement, and timely medical response, we can dramatically reduce child deaths from these preventable diseases and secure a healthier future for all children.