Africa Develops Emergency Plan to Combat Cholera Crisis
(MENAFN) On Tuesday, Africa introduced a comprehensive cholera emergency preparedness and response strategy set to run from September 2025 through February 2026.
The initiative, developed by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), focuses on rapid mobilization of domestic resources to secure vaccines and critical case management supplies aimed at halting ongoing outbreaks.
The ambitious plan targets a dramatic 90% reduction in cholera-related deaths across Africa’s 54 member states, with the goal of eradicating the disease entirely in at least 20 countries by 2030.
The strategy was officially unveiled at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka, Zambia, during a high-level event on partnerships to strengthen Africa’s ecosystem for producing medicines, vaccines, and health technologies. This event coincided with the 75th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa (RC75) and the Gavi Leap initiative.
Zambia’s President and African Union (AU) global and continental cholera champion, Hakainde Hichilema, spearheaded the launch, highlighting that eliminating cholera goes beyond being just a health objective. He stressed that it is a moral obligation, a driver for economic development, and an essential milestone in realizing the AU's Agenda 2063.
“To succeed, we must act today for a better tomorrow, building a self-reliant Africa that produces its own vaccines and secures its future,” he added.
The urgency of the situation was highlighted by Africa CDC Director General Jean Kaseya, who pointed to a sharp increase in cholera cases this year alone—213,586 infections and 4,507 deaths reported across 23 AU member states.
Mohamed Janabi, WHO’s regional director for Africa, described the new plan as a strategic and technical roadmap that directly responds to the urgent call for action, reflecting the collective determination of AU member states to eliminate cholera as a public health threat throughout the continent.
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