Luanda, Angola, 25 January 2025 – The World Well being Group (WHO), in collaboration with Angola’s well being authorities, is intensifying efforts on the bottom to fight the cholera outbreak that has affected the nation since 7 January 2025. With 1,016 reported circumstances and 43 deaths thus far, WHO groups are actively supporting surveillance, case administration, testing, and community-level interventions.

Right this moment, WHO and well being professionals from the Provincial Well being Directorate of Bengo visited 10 water assortment factors, together with 9 rivers and one borehole in a residential space. Water samples have been collected and despatched to the Nationwide Institute for Well being Analysis (INIS) for evaluation to establish sources of contamination and information mitigation methods.

Along with these efforts, WHO groups labored earlier within the week in affected municipalities in Icolo and Bengo Province. Key actions included:

• Visiting high-risk areas corresponding to Mercado do 30, Lagoa do Bairro dos Quiabos, and Chietu neighborhood, which have reported a number of suspected circumstances.
• Helping INIS groups in gathering samples of stagnant water and strong waste in important areas like Mercado do 30, the place accrued waste poses important well being dangers.
• Offering calcium hypochlorite options for water remedy and making ready oral rehydration options (ORS) for sufferers.

Whereas WHO’s fieldwork strengthens native response efforts, these actions are a part of broader assist that features high-level collaboration with the Angolan authorities to develop the Nationwide Cholera Response Plan and help in coordinating multi-sectoral efforts by the Interministerial Fee.

The give attention to community-level interventions, corresponding to water sampling and fast response to suspected circumstances, highlights WHO’s dedication to complementing high-level advocacy with direct actions on the bottom. Via ongoing collaboration, these efforts goal to comprise the outbreak and shield susceptible communities.