What's Happening?
The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have launched a six-month continental preparedness and response plan against cholera, spearheaded by President Hakainde Hichilema, the African Union
Cholera Champion. The plan, unveiled in Lusaka, Zambia, aims to eliminate cholera by 2030 through strengthened coordination, enhanced surveillance, expanded laboratory capacity, effective case management, WASH interventions, vaccination, and community engagement. The initiative is driven by the Continental Cholera Incident Management Support Team (IMST) and integrates with the Mpox IMST, co-led by Africa CDC and WHO. The plan requires $231.7 million for supplies and response, plus $100 million to scale African Oral Cholera Vaccine production.
Why It's Important?
Cholera remains a significant public health challenge in Africa, accounting for 82% of global cases and nearly 94% of cholera-related deaths. The new plan is crucial as Africa is projected to face over 200,000 cholera cases and 6,020 deaths between September 2025 and February 2026, marking a 42% surge in cases and a 98% rise in deaths compared to 2024. The initiative represents a major milestone in political leaders' engagement alongside technical experts to address public health challenges, aiming for a continent free of epidemics and resilient against future threats.
What's Next?
Africa CDC and WHO will support the establishment of the African Continental Task Force on Cholera Control, bringing together Member States and key partners to align with the 2030 Global Cholera Elimination targets. This includes creating National Presidential Task Forces and mobilizing resources, including vaccines, to accelerate elimination across Africa. The plan emphasizes solidarity, shared responsibility, and regional collaboration to effectively respond to complex health emergencies like cholera.
Beyond the Headlines
The plan highlights the importance of leveraging the successful model of the Continental Incident Management Support Team (IMST), which has proven effective in coordinating multi-country responses to health emergencies. The '4-One' principle—one team, one plan, one budget, and one monitoring framework—ensures strategic coherence, operational efficiency, and accountability across Member States and partners.
