Angola Red Cross and IFRC Respond to Cholera Outbreak with Water and Hygiene Initiatives

The Angola Red Cross has mobilized to combat the cholera outbreak that began in January 2025, providing safe water and hygiene education across affected provinces. Volunteers have trained extensively and engaged communities to prevent the disease’s spread. The IFRC highlights the importance of sustainable water and sanitation services to prevent future outbreaks.

On January 7, 2025, Angola confirmed its cholera outbreak, prompting an immediate response from Angola Red Cross volunteers. These dedicated individuals are vital in combating this deadly water-borne disease, sometimes transporting water in buckets on their heads to provide safe drinking water and oral hydration solutions to affected communities. The outbreak originated in Cacuaco, a suburb of Luanda, and has since affected 14 provinces and 57 municipalities with Luanda experiencing the highest number of cases at 3,788.

Catarina Laurinda, who coordinates the Angola Red Cross cholera response, emphasizes the importance of the oral cholera vaccine as a crucial tool in this battle. She states, “The oral cholera vaccine is an important tool in the fight against cholera… but we always need to combine this with other preventative measures such as water treatment, handwashing with soap and sanitation.” The situation remains dire due to poor sanitation, inadequate clean water access, and dense populations, especially in Cuanza Norte Province.

Since the outbreak began, the Angola Red Cross has trained 478 volunteers across six provinces to assist the Ministry of Health in spreading awareness about cholera. Through door-to-door initiatives and wider community engagements in schools and markets, they educate populations on the disease’s transmission, symptoms, and preventative practices. Laurinda explains the volunteers’ efforts in setting up handwashing facilities and distributing safe, treated water, stating, “Our volunteers are visiting households in cholera hotspots… providing safe, treated water and cleaning solutions for households.”

In a noteworthy effort, Angola Red Cross volunteers have distributed over 20,000 household water-treatment tablets. Joana Manuel Joao, a volunteer, shares, “When the cholera outbreak started in Cacuaco, our first work was distributing water treatment tablets to ensure the population had access to safe water to drink.”

Community engagement is critical in supporting cholera vaccination efforts. Volunteers work directly with local leaders to communicate essential information regarding the vaccine and hygiene practices. Laurinda reiterates the vaccine’s significance, urging a blend of treatment and sanitation measures. However, the broader challenge lies in preventing future outbreaks. Alexandra Machado, IFRC’s public health coordinator in Angola, stresses this concern, remarking that cholera should no longer be a public health risk given current knowledge and resources.

To combat cholera effectively, the IFRC is enhancing the preparedness efforts of National Societies and communities as part of its Ending Cholera Plan, which advocates for ongoing access to water and sanitation services. Naemi Heita, head of the IFRC’s Country Cluster office, insists, “If we really want to put an end to cholera, we need to acknowledge its root causes… Governments, NGOs, and the private sector must mobilize and increase investments in water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructures.”

Overall, Angola Red Cross volunteers are making significant strides in addressing the cholera outbreak through water treatment, vaccination education, and community engagement. Their efforts highlight the importance of comprehensive strategies in public health to prevent future epidemics.

In summary, the Angola Red Cross has been instrumental in addressing the cholera outbreak by providing safe water, educating communities, and promoting hygiene practices. Their training and community outreach efforts have resulted in significant distribution of water-treatment tablets and support for vaccination campaigns. The collaboration between national and international bodies emphasizes the need for sustainable water and sanitation solutions to prevent future cholera outbreaks effectively.

Original Source: reliefweb.int