As Angola contends with a suddenly growing cholera outbreak that has now affected 17 of the nation’s 21 provinces, the World Smartly being Group (WHO) deployed a excessive-stage emergency mission to assist the national response and dash coordinated action.
From 23 to 29 March 2025, Dr. Abdou Salam Gueye, WHO Regional Director for Emergencies in Africa, and Dr. Philippe Barboza, Head of the International Cholera Programme, conducted a excessive-stage technical mission to Angola. Their visit comes as the nation stories 9,452 cases and 367 deaths as of 28 March 2025, with a case fatality price of three.9%—effectively above emergency thresholds. A third of all deaths are occurring in the community, pointing to delayed get entry to to care.
“The difficulty requires urgent, sustained, and centered action,” stated Dr. Gueye. “Our visit aimed to name fast priorities and assist the authorities in putting in dwelling a coordinated, results-pushed response.”
The delegation met with senior authorities officials—including the Ministers of Smartly being, Vitality and Water, and Atmosphere—as effectively as the Vice-Governor of Luanda. They visited cholera treatment and oral rehydration internet sites in Sambizanga and Cacuaco, two of Luanda’s hardest-hit municipalities, and engaged with frontline responders to assess operational gaps.
Meetings with partners, including UNICEF, the World Bank, the French Embassy, and other pattern companies, centered on aligning efforts and unlocking fast assist.
The mission issued key suggestions to sever mortality and finish cholera transmission. These include lowering the case fatality price beneath 1% by decentralizing care and setting up cramped treatment facilities in excessive-menace areas, establishing extra Oral Rehydration Points for early get entry to to rehydration, and strengthening case administration and medical examiner training amongst others. The mission moreover identified as for the formalization of a joint Incident Management Plot co-led by the Ministries of Smartly being and Vitality & Water, with biweekly coordination meetings.
The WHO Country Administrative center is working carefully with national authorities to put into effect the suggestions and increase the response. As the rainy season continues and the menace of regional spread increases, time is of the essence.
