World Water Day 2025: Angola Red Cross and IFRC Combat Cholera Outbreak Through Community Engagement and Hygiene Education

World Water Day 2025 highlights the Angola Red Cross and IFRC’s efforts addressing a cholera outbreak that started in January 2025. Volunteers have provided treated water, trained communities, and supported hygiene initiatives across several provinces. The outbreak has necessitated a comprehensive response, combining vaccination, water treatment, and community engagement to combat cholera effectively.

World Water Day 2025 represents a critical moment for the Angola Red Cross and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), who are responding to an ongoing cholera outbreak that began on January 7, 2025. Volunteers have taken proactive measures to prevent the spread of this serious waterborne disease by distributing treated water, often carrying it in buckets to community members, and demonstrating how to prepare oral rehydration solutions.

The cholera outbreak commenced in Cacuaco, a suburb of Luanda, affecting 14 provinces and 57 municipalities, with Luanda reporting the highest incidences. Catarina Laurinda, who coordinates the Angola Red Cross response, emphasizes the need for comprehensive measures including the oral cholera vaccine, safe water treatment, sanitation practices, and handwashing with soap to combat this epidemic effectively.

Escalation of the cholera outbreak can be attributed to inadequate sanitation, limited access to clean water, and high population density in affected areas such as Cuanza Norte Province. The Angola Red Cross has trained 478 volunteers across six provinces to support awareness initiatives on cholera, facilitating community education through various communication channels.

Volunteers are actively working alongside the Ministry of Health, establishing handwashing facilities and ensuring the availability of treated water and cleaning supplies for households. Since the outbreak began, they have distributed over 20,000 household water-treatment tablets and assisted with the community-level treatment of cholera patients through oral rehydration therapy, ensuring referrals for severe cases.

Engaging with local leaders is a fundamental aspect of the volunteers’ approach to promote cholera vaccination, hygiene, and sanitation practices within the community. Coordination efforts focus on sustainable preventive measures to avert future outbreaks, as remarked by Alexandra Machado, IFRC’s public health coordinator.

Naemi Heita, head of the IFRC’s Country Cluster office in Maputo and Angola, highlights the necessity for a holistic strategy to address cholera’s root causes. Investment and collaboration from governments, NGOs, and private sectors are required to enhance water and sanitation infrastructure to withstand challenges posed by disasters, conflicts, and climate change.

In summary, the Angola Red Cross and the IFRC are diligently addressing the cholera outbreak through community engagement, education, and the provision of safe water and sanitation practices. A comprehensive strategy that combines vaccination efforts with enhanced water and sanitation access is essential in combating cholera effectively. The ongoing commitment to enduring solutions is critical to preventing future outbreaks and ensuring community resilience.

Original Source: reliefweb.int