The wave of cholera epidemics sweeping Africa has triggered the largest cholera vaccination campaign ever seen, with over two million people across the continent set to receive oral cholera vaccine (OCV).
Vaccines from the global stockpile funded by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, are being used to run five major campaigns, in Zambia, Uganda, Malawi, South Sudan and Nigeria. The campaigns, due to end in mid-June, are being implemented by the Ministries of Health in these countries, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO) and partners in the Global Cholera Task Force (GCTF), primarily in response to recent cholera epidemics.
In the fifteen years between 1997 and 2012, just 1.5 million doses of cholera vaccine had been used worldwide. In 2017 alone, almost 11 million doses were distributed, from Sierra Leone to Bangladesh, via Somalia. In the first four months of 2018, over 15 million doses have already been approved for use worldwide.
"This is a response of unprecedented scale to the wave of cholera epidemics sweeping across Africa," said Dr. Seth Berkley, Executive Director of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. "We've worked hard to stockpile and have enough vaccines to be ready for virtually any eventuality. But with more and more people now succumbing to this terrible but preventable disease, it's clearer than ever that we need to improve water and sanitation: it's the only long-term, sustainable solution to cholera epidemics."
Through its Regional Office for Africa, WHO regularly provides technical and operational support to African countries often affected by cholera. In particular, since the beginning of 2018, WHO has been working closely with the Ministries of Health in the five countries concerned, providing them with technical expertise and advice to organize and implement vaccination campaigns with the help of various partners. This is part of the global initiative to reduce cholera deaths by 90% by 2030.
"Oral vaccines play an essential role in our fight against cholera." Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General
The head of the World Health Organization declared that "every day, WHO and its partners are saving lives by improving access to clean water and sanitation, setting up treatment centers, delivering supplies, providing public health advice, training health workers and working alongside communities in prevention".
Many African countries are still paying a heavy price for cholera. As of May 7, many countries are facing cholera epidemics: at least 12 regions or countries in sub-Saharan Africa are reporting active transmission of the disease. What is currently happening with oral cholera vaccines shows that with a strong mobilization of countries and partners, it is possible to tackle the disease effectively if the necessary means are available.
"Cholera resurfaces every rainy season, devastating communities across Africa," added Dr. Matshidiso Moeti, WHO Regional Director for Africa. "With this historic vaccination campaign, countries in the region are showing their determination to stop the cholera hecatomb. We must build on this momentum to implement a multi-sectoral approach and ensure that the entire population has access to safe drinking water and sanitation, wherever they are. "