In the South Cuanza Province on the west coast of Angola, the cholera epidemic is rampant, bringing great pain and panic to the local residents. “I thought I couldn’t survive,” said Abel Kanivete, a victim of the disaster, still shaken. He is one of the more than 18,000 Angolans affected since the cholera outbreak in late January 2025. At the cholera treatment center, Kanivete saw many patients like him suffering from the disease. He was once worried that the nurses wouldn’t be able to take care of everyone, but fortunately, with the full efforts of the medical staff, he recovered.
In the face of such a severe epidemic situation, the World Health Organization (WHO) acted promptly, closely coordinating with the Ministry of Health of Angola and its partners, and deployed a rapid response team to Cuanza Sul Province from April 27 to May 5, 2025. The team not only provided technical support to help control the spread of the epidemic, but also actively supported the affected communities in the province.
During the deployment period, public health experts from the World Health Organization provided training on cholera case management to over 150 health workers and local health officials from across the province, enhancing their professional capabilities. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization also provided the necessary technical support for the establishment and operation of cholera treatment centers, ensuring the smooth progress of the treatment work.
“Our work helps health authorities detect cases early, build local capacity and involve communities in prevention and response,” said Dr. Kuku Muhao, the World Health Organization’s emergency officer in Angola. He said that local officials have provided necessary basic infrastructure training to staff to prevent new infections and move towards ending the cholera epidemic.
In addition to medical treatment, the rapid response team of the World Health Organization also actively supports water security and sanitation efforts. They conducted water quality tests on the Cambango River, the main water source in the area, to ensure the safety of residents’ water use. Meanwhile, technicians from the provincial water affairs bureau also received training in chlorine gas preparation and safe burial practices to break the cholera transmission chain and protect high-risk communities.
Furthermore, more than 1,470 people in the province, including volunteers, religious leaders, Red Cross members and health workers, have also received training in identifying cholera symptoms and promoting cholera prevention. They learned basic preventive measures such as how to wash hands correctly, prepare food and water. In addition, 289 local leaders, including representatives of administration, tradition, religion and politics, also participated in awareness-raising activities to enhance coordination among various departments. To further enhance the level of public health, the local area has also launched a community campaign called “One Toilet per Household” to promote the construction and use of toilets.
Despite these advancements, challenges still exist. Many communities still have no access to safe, clean water and proper sanitation facilities. In parts of Southern Kwanza Province and other provinces, it is still very difficult to provide basic services to remote areas. Since the epidemic was confirmed, cholera has spread to 17 out of the 21 provinces in the country, causing nearly 600 deaths, with a case fatality rate as high as 3.2%, exceeding the threshold of 1%. This indicates that some cholera patients have not received early and adequate treatment.
The results of the intervention by the World Health Organization are visible and encouraging. We have witnessed progress across the country in terms of technological capabilities, community participation and institutional coordination. However, continuous, coordinated and sustainable actions need to be taken. “Strengthening international cooperation and support is an urgent priority,” emphasized Dr. Indrajit Hazarika, the representative of the World Health Organization in Angola.
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