According to a WHO note, “in a decisive effort to contain the spread of the cholera outbreak in Angola”, the EU signed a memorandum of understanding with Unicef that marks the formal launch of this initiative to support the Government of Angola.
The latest data from the Ministry of Health, dated May 20, on the cholera situation in the country indicate a cumulative total, since January of this year, of 641 deaths and 21,513 cases, spread across 18 of the country's 21 provinces.
The project is called “Stop the Spread: Accelerating Life-Saving Cholera Interventions in Angola” and includes crucial interventions in the fields of health, water, sanitation and hygiene.
This joint initiative aims to reduce cholera-related mortality by 75 percent in the most affected provinces over the next four months through emergency actions targeting more than 500,000 people across the country, with a special focus on children, the elderly and people with disabilities.
The WHO representative in Angola, Indrajit Hazarika, quoted in the note, highlighted "the significant concern" of this epidemic, in terms of public health.
“Our partnership with UNICEF and the Government of Angola is critical to ensuring that life-saving interventions reach those most in need, especially underserved and high-risk communities,” he said.
According to the official, the collaboration of WHO and UNICEF with national and provincial authorities has been fundamental to the response to the cholera outbreak since the beginning of the epidemic in January, through strengthening the capacities of health professionals, distributing water treatment solutions, implementing basic sanitation measures, mobilizing and engaging communities and carrying out vaccination campaigns.
Antero de Pina, Unicef representative in Angola, also quoted in the note, noted that the agreement and the European Union funding “reflect the shared commitment to protect the most vulnerable, particularly children”.
“By combining our strengths in key areas such as health, supply or improving water quality and sanitation conditions, we aim to reduce preventable deaths and build resilience in communities,” he stressed.
The joint action plan includes initiatives that include establishing oral rehydration points and cholera treatment centers, training health professionals and community volunteers, expanding the water chlorination process and promoting hygiene in affected areas, and strengthening disease surveillance and diagnosis capacity.
It also includes support for the implementation of a reactive cholera vaccination campaign and community engagement, with volunteers facilitating dialogues on protective behaviors and the distribution of cholera prevention kits to families.
“The agreement now signed is aligned with Angola’s National Cholera Prevention and Control Plan and appears to be a crucial investment in the country’s future health security,” the note highlights.
