World Water Day 2025: Angola Red Cross and IFRC Combat Cholera Outbreak

The Angola Red Cross and IFRC are responding to a cholera outbreak beginning in January 2025 by providing safe water and hygiene education to affected communities. Volunteers have been trained to raise awareness on cholera prevention and distribute water treatment solutions. Despite ongoing challenges, efforts aim to build resilience against future outbreaks through sustainable sanitation and water access initiatives.

World Water Day 2025 highlights significant efforts by the Angola Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in addressing the cholera outbreak that emerged in Angola on January 7, 2025. Volunteers are actively working to provide safe, treated water and essential hygiene information to communities severely affected by this water-borne disease. This initiative aims to mitigate the outbreak’s impact amid challenges such as poor sanitation and limited access to clean water.

The cholera outbreak began in Cacuaco, a suburb of Luanda, affecting 14 provinces and 57 municipalities, with Luanda alone reporting 3,788 cases. Catarina Laurinda, coordinating the Angola Red Cross response, emphasized the importance of combining the oral cholera vaccine with water treatment, handwashing with soap, and sanitation. She remarked, “The oral cholera vaccine is an important tool in the fight against cholera and this is the first time it is being used in Angola.”

To combat the outbreak, the Angola Red Cross has trained 478 volunteers across six provinces, enhancing awareness regarding cholera’s causes, symptoms, and prevention. Volunteers engage in initiatives such as setting up handwashing facilities, distributing safe water, and promoting hygiene practices through various methods, including door-to-door awareness campaigns.

Joana Manuel Joao, a volunteer, stated, “When the cholera outbreak started in Cacuacuo, our first work was distributing water treatment tablets to ensure the population had access to safe water to drink.” Additionally, volunteers track cholera transmission routes and administer oral rehydration therapy to affected individuals, referring severe cases to hospitals.

Engagement with local leaders is crucial for the cholera vaccination campaign. Trust-building efforts enable volunteers to effectively disseminate educational information regarding the cholera vaccine and hygiene practices. Alexandra Machado of IFRC highlighted that, “With the tools we have today and the knowledge we have had for over a century, cholera should not be a public health concern.”

Moreover, the IFRC supports collective preparedness to prevent cholera and other epidemics. This is a fundamental aspect of their Ending Cholera Plan, which advocates for sustainable access to water and sanitation services. Naemi Heita, leading the IFRC’s Country Cluster office, urged the need to address the root causes of cholera through investments from governments and NGOs into infrastructure and health systems.

The Angola Red Cross and IFRC are undertaking vital efforts to tackle the cholera outbreak impacting multiple provinces in Angola. By providing safe water, promoting hygiene practices, and disseminating critical information, these organizations aim to mitigate the outbreak’s effects. Continuous community engagement and preparedness are essential to prevent future outbreaks, underscoring the need for sustainable investment in water, sanitation, and health systems. The contributions made by volunteers are vital in the fight against this public health challenge.

Original Source: reliefweb.int