ABUJA, Nigeria — The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have unveiled a new cholera preparedness and response plan aiming to cut deaths by 90% by 2030.
Announced on Friday, the 2025–2026 strategy will strengthen rapid vaccination campaigns, improve water and sanitation systems, and boost investments in fragile communities most at risk.
Africa currently bears 82% of global cholera cases and 93.5% of related deaths.
Nigeria and several other countries have reported surging outbreaks this year, with fatalities rising by more than 250% compared to 2024.
Cholera, caused by ingesting contaminated water or food, can kill within hours if untreated. Children and displaced populations remain among the most vulnerable.
At the heart of the new plan is a Continental Cholera Incident Management Support Team (IMST), embedded within Africa’s existing mpox response platform. Officials say this will ensure “one team, one plan, one budget, and one monitoring framework” for faster coordination.
“The roadmap envisions an Africa free of cholera outbreaks by 2030,” Africa CDC said, noting that over 20 countries could eliminate the disease under the plan.
A Continental Task Force on Cholera will also be created to coordinate interventions and strengthen accountability across African Union Member States
