
In the act: Theatre group actors portray a typical home scene
Hygiene officers have come up with a unique way of demonstrating the importance of clean water
Alcidio Pangaia
In the village of Nseue, in northern Mozambique, a play is being put on at the local primary school. The stage is set for the drama that unfolds in a triangle of the playground: in one corner under a tree, a family is busy with household chores, under another tree, a family is cooking around the fire and in the third corner is a hospital – complete with a drip, medicine bottles and medical staff talking to patients. The community borehole is just off centre.
The plot follows a family in the village who has not taken the instructions of a hygiene officer seriously – with dire consequences. The grumpy father of the house is dismayed when his daughter is rushed to hospital not long after he threw out the water purifiers in a rage.
The actors take their roles very seriously. The father in question, played by Julio Xavier, is most convincing in his ferocity and the child audience is completely engaged.
Water committee actors
The theatre group is the brainchild of Eduarda Emilia, Manuel Macome and Esmenia Chemane who work as hygiene and gender officers at ForAfrika.
“It has been very effective,” says Eduarda, who trained the troupe of amateur actors. The actors also happen to be members of the local water committee which takes care of the recently rehabilitated borehole.
“We thought it would be a great way to teach the children and, indeed the community, about the importance of hygiene and looking after their water,” she says, a smile dancing around her eyes.
“I feel that through the theatre group, we are better able to prevent disease,” says Julio, who is a lot less fierce in real life.
School principal Elias José agrees: “The training has led to a lot of changes. The children are retaining the knowledge and passing it on at home.
“The children love washing their hands so much that we have run out of soap!” he says.
Alcidio Pangaia is Provincial Manager in Mozambique