Angola Red Cross Responds to Cholera Outbreak with Water and Hygiene Initiatives
The Angola Red Cross is actively responding to a cholera outbreak, providing safe water and hygiene education to communities affected by the disease. Founded on volunteer efforts, they are distributing water treatment tablets and supporting vaccination campaigns to prevent further spread. Community involvement is essential for sustainable health improvements, necessitating investment in water and sanitation infrastructures to address cholera’s root causes.
On January 7, 2025, a cholera outbreak was confirmed in Angola. The Angola Red Cross has mobilized its volunteers to provide support, ensuring safe water access and hygiene measures to communities affected by this water-borne disease. Volunteers have transported water in buckets to prepare oral hydration solutions and to deliver safe drinking water to residents, effectively addressing the immediate needs of the population.
The outbreak originated in Cacuaco, a suburb of Luanda, and has since affected 14 provinces and 57 municipalities, with Luanda itself reporting 3,788 cases. The situation is exacerbated by poor sanitation, high population density, and limited access to clean water, particularly in Cuanza Norte Province where fatalities are rising. Volunteers have been trained to support the Ministry of Health with awareness-raising initiatives concerning cholera prevention and proper hygiene practices.
Catarina Laurinda, the coordinator of the Angola Red Cross, noted, “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; we always need to combine this with other preventative measures such as water treatment, handwashing with soap, and sanitation.” To date, 478 volunteers have been trained across key provinces to share information about cholera and to help establish hand-washing facilities.
Angola Red Cross volunteers have distributed over 20,000 water-treatment tablets and have helped families prepare oral rehydration solutions by demonstrating how to use the tablets properly. Joana Manuel Joao, a volunteer, stated, “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 has been pivotal in the vaccination campaign against cholera, as volunteers collaborate with local leaders to educate communities about vaccine benefits and hygiene practices. Alexandra Machado from IFRC emphasized the need for preparedness, stating, “With the tools we have today, cholera should not be a public health concern.”
The overarching aim is to ensure that future outbreaks are prevented, focusing on addressing the root causes of cholera. Naemi Heita pointed out that sustaining improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructures is critical. Governments, NGOs, and the private sector must work collaboratively to invest in robust health and social systems to combat the effects of disasters and climate change, thereby breakdown the cycle of cholera outbreaks.
In summary, the Angola Red Cross has played a crucial role in combating the cholera outbreak through volunteer efforts focusing on safe water access, hygiene promotion, and vaccination support. Community engagement and education are essential components of their strategy. Moving forward, ensuring accessible water and sanitation is key to preventing future outbreaks and addressing the underlying causes of cholera in Angola.
Original Source: reliefweb.int
