Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema has launched a continent-wide cholera response plan, calling on African heads of state to establish presidential task forces to combat the deadly disease that has claimed over 4,500 lives across 23 countries this year alone.
Unveiled on the sidelines of the 75th Session of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Regional Committee for Africa in Lusaka on Tuesday, the Africa Continental Cholera Outbreak Response Plan aims to guide swift, coordinated national responses to cholera outbreaks and strengthen multisectoral collaboration.
“This moment marks a turning point in Africa’s fight against a disease that has robbed communities not just of health, but of dignity and opportunity,” Hichilema said at the launch.
The Zambian leader, who serves as the African Union’s continental cholera champion, noted the need for high-level political leadership to combat the disease.
“I urge my fellow heads of state and government from Africa to establish presidential task forces on cholera to ensure high-level accountability and coordination.”
The plan, jointly developed by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and WHO, outlines emergency preparedness measures for the period September 2025 to February 2026.
It seeks to mobilise domestic resources for vaccines, case management supplies and sanitation infrastructure, with the goal of reducing cholera deaths by 90 percent and eradicating the disease in at least 20 African countries by 2030.
Hichilema stressed that cholera is fundamentally a water and sanitation challenge.
He called for stronger coordination between health ministries and water authorities and urged governments to prioritize domestic investment before seeking external aid.
Africa CDC director general Jean Kaseya said the alarming rise in cholera cases in 2025 – over 213,000 infections and 4,507 deaths – underscored the urgency of the initiative.
JN/APA