For Rodriguez’s community, a lack of clean water and adequate sanitation was at the heart of the problem. Communities in Mozambique face continued health challenges as lack of sanitation results in disease and infection that travels through families and communities. Once illnesses begin, they spread quickly as open sewerage carries bacteria from household to household.

Rodriguez, his wife Aida and their two children struggled with sicknesses that prevented the family from engaging in work and community life.

The team members of the program ‘Towards Abundant Life for All’ witnessed the struggles of Rodriguez’s family and many others who suffered preventable illnesses. The team undertook to support the community by educating families on minimising the spread of disease. Rodriguez has built a latrine in his home that distances the family from sewerage. Cooking practices across the community have been changed, as water is boiled and purified, and dishes are properly washed and dried before use. Rodriguez and Aida can prepare food safely for their children and teach them the importance of washing themselves daily.

Rodriguez is now a volunteer ‘Towards Abundant Life’ Team Member, and has adopted their mission as his own, explaining that ‘our goal is a community free of diseases’. While there are fewer cases of diarrhoea, there is still much to be done for the health and sanitation of Mozambique’s communities.

Rodriguez has said that while ‘it’s not like before,’ it’s also ‘not over for good’ as health continues to be a challenge for people in his community. As for Rodriguez and his family, their newfound health knowledge has been invaluable in decreasing sickness, for which they are grateful to The Anglican Diocese of Nampula, Mozambique who run ‘Towards Abundant Life for All’.

‘Towards Abundant Life for All’ receives funding from the Australian Government, through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).