Fighting cholera in the front lines of Angola’s hardest hit provinces

Luanda ‒ “I believed I could perhaps well no longer stay on,” says Abel Kanivete, from Angola’s Cuanza Sul province on the nation’s West bolt. “There have been so many americans in the cholera remedy centre. I was scared the nurses could perhaps per chance no longer fancy every person, but they did, and I am alive as a result of of them.” Kanivete is one of the more than 18 000 Angolans plagued by the most modern cholera outbreak, declared in behind January 2025.

In coordination with the Ministry of Health and partners, World Health Group (WHO) deployed a like a flash response crew to Cuanza Sul from 27 April to 5 May furthermore 2025. The crew equipped technical toughen to serve adjust the outbreak and toughen affected communities in the province.

During this time, WHO public properly being specialists trained over 150 properly being workers and native properly being officials from across the province in cholera case administration. WHO furthermore equipped technical toughen for the establishment and operation of cholera remedy centres.

“Our work has helped properly being authorities to detect instances early, bear native skill and involve communities in prevention and response,” says Dr Kuku Muhao, WHO Emergency Officer in Angola. “Local officials have trained group on the fundamental infrastructure desired to finish unusual infections and switch in the direction of ending the cholera outbreak.”

WHO’s like a flash response crew furthermore supported water security and sanitation efforts. Water quality tests have been conducted on the Cambongo River, the main water source in the problem. Technicians from the Provincial Water Directorate purchased training in chlorine preparation and safe burial practices to interrupt the chain of transmission and protect at-possibility communities.  

Over 1470 americans in the province, including volunteers, non secular leaders, Pink Inferior participants and properly being workers have been trained to establish cholera symptoms and promote cholera prevention, corresponding to washing fingers and meals and water preparation. In addition, 289 native leaders, including administrative, outdated faculty, and non secular and political representatives participated in consciousness-raising activities to strengthen coordination across sectors. A neighborhood marketing campaign entitled “One latrine per family” was launched to promote the building and utilize of latrines as a key public properly being measure.

Despite this progress, challenges remain. Many communities calm lack ranking entry to to safe shiny water, and ample sanitation. Reaching remote areas with compulsory companies remains complex in formulation of Cuanza Sul and other provinces.

Since the confirmation of the outbreak, cholera has spread to 17 of the nation’s 21 provinces. The outbreak has already brought on nearly 600 deaths, with a high case fatality rate of 3.2%, exceeding the 1% threshold which indicates early and ample remedy of cholera patients.

“The results of the WHO intervention are considered and encouraging. We’ve considered improvements in terms of technical skill, neighborhood involvement and institutional coordination across the nation. On the other hand, ongoing coordinated and sustainable action is compulsory. Strengthening international cooperation and toughen is pressing,” says Dr Indrajit Hazarika, WHO Representative in Angola.