This week, during the 68^th session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa being held in Dakar, Senegal, African countries promised to implement the strategies aimed at eradicating Cholera from the continent.  

WHO explains in a statement that Africa, Sub Saharan Africa to be precise, remains one of the most affected regions in the world.

According to its data, in 2017, more than 150,000 (including more than 3,000 deadly cases) cholera cases were reported in seventeen African countries.

The recent appearance of 60 cases in Algeria (after 22 years of absence) proves the urgency to address this health question that is affecting an increasing number of countries on the continent.

The institution indicates that this increase is due to the lack of infrastructures required to ensure adequate hygienic conditions like drinking water infrastructures.

Indeed, about 92 million citizens are still drinking water from unclean sources. Thanks to the new strategy, the cholera outbreaks which have been accentuated by the humanitarian crisis, the rapid pace of urbanization, and population growth should drop by 90% by 2030.

Let’s note that for the time being, 47 countries have already endorsed this new strategy which is aimed at eradicating a "symbol of inequalities" (as Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa, called it).

Moutiou Adjibi Nourou