Southern African countries call for urgent action against cholera, climate-related health emergencies – Malawi

lilongwe – Ministers of Health and Water and Sanitation and Environment from 11 Southern African countries today called for urgent action to facilitate collaboration and cooperation on preparedness, preparedness and response to address cholera epidemics, other waterborne diseases and climate-related public health emergencies demanded.

The rapid rising trend could lead to a higher number of reported cases in 2021 – the highest for cholera in Africa in nearly a decade, including 130,705 cholera cases and 3,052 recorded deaths in the African region by 2022 bad year The region is also seeing cholera outbreaks in areas not usually affected by the disease.

At a high-level ministerial meeting on the “Cholera Epidemic and Climate-Related Public Health Emergencies” in Lilongwe on 9 and 10 March, the Ministers called for urgent action to facilitate collaboration and cooperation among our Member States for cholera, polio and climate agreed to take action. -Related public health emergency preparedness, preparedness and response.

The meeting was organized by the Government of Malawi in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and UNICEF.

“With strong preparedness, preparedness and coordinated cross-border responses, we believe it is possible to end the cholera outbreak in Southern Africa and achieve regional goals in eliminating the disease to guarantee a healthier future for our populations.” is,” said the Honorable Khumbise Kandodo Chiponda, Minister of Health in Malawi.

The current cholera epidemic is occurring in the context of extreme climate events, such as severe drought in the Greater Horn of Africa, and seasonal rains and tropical storms in southern Africa, which increase the risk of the spread of waterborne diseases. A total of 13 countries in the WHO African Region are currently experiencing cholera outbreaks, with the risk of cross-border transmission.

Persistence of cholera Gaps in water and sanitation infrastructure and services, poor sanitation, deficiencies in surveillance, health systems and workforce insufficient political commitment to facilitate early detection as well as secure the necessary resources for early outbreak response is an expression of. effect change.

“This collective call for concerted efforts has come at the right time. We can beat cholera epidemics and reduce the impact of climate-related public health emergencies by working together in multi-sectoral partnerships, aided by substantial political commitment and investment,” for Africa WHO Regional Director Dr Matshidiso Moeti said. “Together, we can end the current outbreak of cholera in the region and save many lives.”

Following the confirmation of its first case in 30 years in February 2022 in Malawi, five southern African countries – all of them in response to cholera outbreaks – have worked together to vaccinate more than 33 million children against wild poliovirus type 1 last year. Tried

In a joint communique, the ministers at the meeting called for the establishment of the Africa Elimination of Cholera Epidemics Coordination Task Force (AECECT), which was held at the African Union Secretariat in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with the support of member states. Africa is to maintain full coherence with the Ending Cholera by 2030 Global Roadmap to support CDC, WHO, UNICEF, GTFCC and other relevant partners on collaboration and cooperation on cholera elimination efforts. The task force will support collaboration and cooperation on cross-border preparedness. Preparedness and response to address cholera epidemics. The communiqué also calls for exchange of information in a time-bound manner on matters of common interest deemed appropriate for preparedness and response.

To request additional information or an interview, please contact:

Veronica Mukhuna

communication officer
WHO Malawi
Email: mukhunav@who.int
Tel: +265 999 375 094

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