Africa has unveiled a continental emergency preparedness and response plan to tackle cholera from September 2025 to February 2026.
The model, developed by the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO), aims to accelerate funding for vaccines and case management supplies across the continent. The initiative seeks to reduce cholera-related deaths by 90% in the 54 member states and eradicate the disease in at least 20 countries by 2030.
The plan was launched at Lusaka’s Mulungushi International Conference Centre during events focused on strengthening an ecosystem approach to the production of medicines, vaccines, and other health technologies in Africa, alongside the Gavi Leap initiative.
Hakainde Hichilema, African Union (AU) global and continental cholera champion and President of Zambia, emphasised that eradicating cholera is not only a health priority but also a moral obligation, a driver of economic growth, and a critical step towards achieving the AU’s Agenda 2063.
“To succeed, we must act today for a better tomorrow, building a self-reliant Africa that produces its own vaccines and secures its future,” he said.
Jean Kaseya, Director General of Africa CDC, highlighted the urgency of the plan in light of the sharp rise in cholera cases in 2025, which saw 213,586 cases and 4,507 deaths reported across 23 AU member states.
Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa, described the roadmap as a strategic and technical blueprint, reflecting the united determination of AU member states to eliminate cholera as a public health threat on the continent.
The U.S. has imposed new Iran-related sanctions targeting a key financier linked to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei and 13 other individuals...
Temperatures above 40°C are scorching parts of Central Asia, prompting the World Health Organization to warn that extreme heat is becoming an increas...
China's technology sector is producing billion-dollar startups at its fastest pace in nearly five years, with artificial intelligence and robotics dri...
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington has agreed to resume talks with Iran after Tehran requested further negotiations, but declared that last month's ceasefire between the two countries was "over".
What began as a fan-created chant just months ago has become one of the defining images of this year's FIFA World Cup, with Norway's "Viking Row" sweeping through stadiums, city streets and social media.
AnewZ's Daybreak on 10 July covered mounting tensions in the Middle East, political developments in the UK, and major stories from the South Caucasus and Central Asia, alongside key international news.
Ukraine is facing one of the most difficult moments of the war, as a convergence of corruption scandals, political turbulence, financial uncertainty and intensifying Russian offensives places unprecedented strain on the country’s ability to defend itself.
It has been a punishing week for large parts of China, and forecasters warn the worst may not be over. After Typhoon Maysak left a trail of destruction and at least 23 people dead, Super Typhoon Bavi is now threatening the country's eastern coast.
At least 12 people have been killed in forest fires in Almeria in southern Spain, Andalucía’s emergency agency has said, as firefighters continue efforts to put out the blaze.
The death toll from Venezuela's twin earthquakes has risen to 3,811, according to figures released by National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez on Wednesday.
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington has agreed to resume talks with Iran after Tehran requested further negotiations, but declared that last month's ceasefire between the two countries was "over".
The U.S. military said on Wednesday it launched fresh strikes on Iran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open to shipping, triggering Iranian attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain in the latest escalation to derail efforts to end the war.
A cholera outbreak in Sudan is at risk of spiralling further as fighting, mass displacement and the start of the rainy season make it harder to contain the disease, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned.
Australia on Friday confirmed the first case of the deadly H5N1 bird flu virus in a native seabird, marking a new phase in the disease's spread after it landed on the country's shores last month.
The number of confirmed Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo has climbed to 1,759, including 600 deaths, according to government data released on Wednesday.
The World Health Organization has warned that Europe could face "more deadly weeks" as another intense heatwave develops over the Atlantic, urging governments to strengthen emergency preparations before temperatures rise again.
More than 1,300 excess deaths have been recorded across Europe since June 21 as the continent faces extreme heat, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment