The World Health Organisation has launched a new global roadmap on cholera, ‘Ending Cholera – A Global Roadmap to 2030’.
Details were released yesterday (4 October) at a meeting in Veyrier-du-Lac, France.
Dr Peter Salama, Director of the WHO Health Emergencies programme, said: "It has been more than 150 years since high-income countries achieved cholera control. But still we have nearly three million cases around the world, and nearly 100,000 deaths. We also project that the situation for cholera could become worse.
"The roadmap promises a new approach to an old disease. Its aim is to reduce deaths by 90% in 47 countries affected by cholera, with 20 countries eliminating the disease."
The new strategy details the plans for cholera control at the country level and "provides a concrete path toward a world in which cholera is no longer a threat to public health".
The global roadmap focuses on early detection and quick response to contain outbreaks at an early stage; a multisectoral approach to prevent cholera in hotspots in endemic countries (including improved water, sanitation, and hygiene and through use of oral cholera vaccines) and, an effective mechanism of coordination for technical support, resource mobilisation and partnership at local and global level.
The objectives of today’s meeting are to solidify concrete commitments from partners representing cholera-affected countries, for implementation of evidence-based cholera control and elimination plans, and from key donors, for support of the global mechanism and country-based programs.
Partners in the Global Task Force on Cholera Control come from more than 50 organisations, and include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Medecins Sans Frontieres.
WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus added: “The disease takes its greatest toll on the poor and the vulnerable – this is quite unacceptable. This roadmap is the best way we have to bring this to an end.”
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