Health

What is the problem?

What are the solutions?

The solution to stopping the spread of malaria in Mozambique is to effectively control the mosquito population. However, before an effective spraying campaign can be developed, a reliable series of maps of Quelimane, Mozambique must be created. Therefore our first course of action is to create these maps using Open Street Map software. We are using OSM to map the roads and homes throughout the community of Quelimane, Mozambique so that a plan can be developed to effectively spray pesticides that will reduce the mosquito population while having little to no negative effect on the people who live there.

- John Cook

Who and what is affected by this problem?

In Mozambique malaria is a serious disease that claim the lives of 438,000 people and infected 214,000,000 people in 2015. Mozambique is one of the most poorest and most underdeveloped countries in the world. Citizens of Mozambique live in a rural area, with rudimentary housing. Mozambique is the most affected area throughout Africa with mosquitoes. The whole area of Mozambique is devastated by the presence of malaria, the low amounts of precipitation received in the area that would have affected the insect populations. Another problem is that fumigation the houses that the people live in should help but mosquitoes are constantly being carried by wind into these areas as well as influx of people coming in and out of Mozambique spreading disease. Some people of Mozambique are illiterate and/or haven't seen a doctor before so this could possibly create a rift between interacting with the people of Mozambique as far as providing to these people whom aren't entirely familiar with certain medicinal customs.

- Quentin Brooks

How can mapping mitigate these problems?

What are you mapping and how can mapping these features help make communities more resilient in light of this problem or in areas affected by this problem?

We are mapping the structures and road features of Mozambique in the Southeastern part of Africa. Malaria is a very fatal disease and is very common in Africa. It is a major killer of children and people living with HIV/AIDS, with death rates up to 90%. However, with the rise in technology and medicine as well as global awareness the numbers have dramatically declined between the years 2000-2015. Malaria is transported by mosquitos and by mapping out these areas, we can see which areas are affected the most. A good portion of Mozambique is located by water, which mosquitos are the most common. Mapping all these features, allows volunteers to know where homes, businesses, and other buildings are that way they can find ways to help out those affected. Technology and mapping out in these areas are not updated, and so mapping out the roads and transportation features allows everyone stay updated on the situation and how to move from one location to another. With Mapping Without Borders, we are bringing public awareness to a situation that others may unknowingly overlook. Keeping the population up to date with current mapping features in essential, and helps relate todays’ generation to a problem that has been around for years.

-Cheyenne Betancourt