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The Government of Zimbabwe, through the Ministry of Health and Child Care (MoHCC) has officially declared an end to a protracted cholera outbreak that began on 12 February 2023. The declaration was made in line with Global Task Force on Cholera Control (GTFCC) guidelines following zero reports of cholera cases in Zimbabwe for more than four consecutive weeks.
“The Ministry of Health and Child Care wishes to notify WHO that the cholera outbreak, which was first reported on 12 February 2023 in Chegutu District is now declared over after a protracted 18 months of response,” noted MoHCC the Permanent Secretary Dr Aspect Maunganidze in a letter to the World Health Organization (WHO) in Zimbabwe.
The cholera outbreak was reported in all the country’s 10 provinces, with 62 districts affected. Through implementation of multi-faceted interventions, the outbreak has now been contained. The last case of cholera was reported on 30 June 2024 and the country had recorded 34 549 suspected cholera cases, 4 217 confirmed cases and 33 831 recoveries. Cumulative deaths reported were 718 with 87 being laboratory confirmed and 631 suspected deaths. The Case fatality Rate was 2.1%.
WHO played a critical role in supporting Zimbabwe’s response to the cholera outbreak. Essential medical supplies worth close to $1 million were procured and handed over to MoHCC to scale up response activities. In addition, cholera treatment centres and units were also put in place and 4,083 health workers trained in case management, water quality testing, laboratory testing, infection, prevention and control (IPC) within CTCs as well as in surveillance. WHO was also responsible for partner coordination to avoid duplication of efforts and promote optimal use of resources.
WHO also supported risk communication and community engagement activities to raise awareness about cholera prevention and treatment. Furthermore, WHO provided support for the two rounds of the oral cholera vaccines (OCV) vaccination campaigns, where over 2.4 million doses of OCV were administered. WHO also provided technical expertise, and personnel to bolster the country’s capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to the epidemic. WHO Regional Office for Africa and Headquarters deployed 14 surge experts to support the response while 12 WHO Zimbabwe staff were repurposed to reinforce the cholera response.
“While we celebrate this significant milestone, it is crucial to acknowledge the challenges that lie ahead,” said Dr Desta Tiruneh, WHO Representative to Zimbabwe. He added, “Strengthening our health systems and investing in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure are essential to prevent future outbreaks. We must build on the lessons learned from this experience to create a more resilient health system.”
Funding for the overall cholera response came from various donors including the Contigency Funds for Emergencies (CFE), the Health Resilience Fund, (a pool of funding from European Union, GAVI, The Vaccine Alliance, as well as the Governments of Ireland and the United Kingdom), the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, the Russian Federation as well as USAID.
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Lusaka — African health ministers and partners are calling for increased investment in integrated health services to address the growing burden of severe noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), particularly those affecting women and underserved populations across the region. At a high-level side event during the Seventy-fifth session of the WHO Regional Committee for Africa, delegates emphasized the urgent need for equitable access to prevention, screening, treatment, and rehabilitation across the continuum of care for NCDs. Disparities are especially pronounced in rural areas, where health infrastructure and services remain inadequate. Breast and cervical cancers are among the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in sub-Saharan Africa—particularly cervical cancer, which is both preventable and treatable. It remains the most common cause of cancer death for women in the region. In 2022, Africa accounted for nearly a quarter (23%) of the 76 000 global cervical cancer deaths. Meanwhile, severe NCDs such as Type 1 diabetes, sickle cell disease, and heart conditions claim more than half a million lives annually, including among children, adolescents, and young adults in some of the continent’s poorest communities. Inequitable access to health services continues to hinder efforts to reduce this burden. To improve cervical and breast cancer care in the region, urgent investment is needed in leadership, governance, and financing. Strengthening these foundations is critical in the current funding landscape. Advancements in strategic planning, healthcare infrastructure, workforce training, and—most importantly—equitable access to screening, diagnostic, and treatment services are essential. To address these challenges, WHO and its partners showcased successful integrated models such as the Women’s Integrated Care for Cancer Services (WICS), the BEAT Breast Cancer Project, and the PEN-Plus Strategy. WICS strengthens early detection, treatment, and integration of women’s cancer services into primary health care systems in Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, and Zimbabwe. The BEAT Breast Cancer Project is a transformative multi-year initiative aimed at reducing breast cancer mortality among women in Tanzania and Ghana through early detection, timely diagnosis, and comprehensive treatment access. “PEN-Plus, WICS and the BEAT Breast Cancer Initiative are models for a new standard of care, rooted in equity, access and health justice. I urge countries to prioritize policies that embed these models into broader health system strengthening, said Dr Mohamed Janabi, WHO Regional Director for Africa”. Côte d’Ivoire offers a compelling example of progress, combining high HPV vaccination coverage—reaching over three million girls (91.4%)—with WICS-supported community-based screening campaigns to strengthen cervical cancer prevention. In Kenya, cervical cancer screening has been successfully integrated into national health services. “This gathering marks a pivotal moment to accelerate action for breast cancer prevention in Africa. We deeply value the leadership of the Ministries of Health of Ghana and Tanzania, and the steadfast support of the Pfizer Foundation in helping us achieve this milestone. The side event builds momentum for the policy prioritization of women’s cancers, partnerships to strengthen the broader women’s cancer ecosystem, and advance a health-systems approach to breast cancer prevention and management”, said Dr Somesh Kumar, Senior Director, Jhpiego. PEN-Plus expands access to care for severe NCDs at the district hospital level. Since its implementation, 20 countries in Africa have increased access to services for severe NCDs. Over 15 000 people are currently receiving treatment for chronic conditions such as sickle cell disease and Type 1 diabetes through PEN-Plus clinics.
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