Luanda - Member states of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) must increase equitable access to health, basic sanitation and hygiene services, aiming to improve participation and community behaviors, minister Sílvia Lutucuta said on Saturday in Luanda.
Sílvia Lutucuta who was speaking at the extraordinary meeting of SADC Health Ministers, aimed at analyzing the epidemiological situation of cholera in this region, discussing a strategic plan for preparation, prevention and response to the disease and evaluating post-epidemic recovery actions in ravaged countries.
According to Angola’s Health Minister, the path to be taken to achieve the regional framework for implementing the global strategy for the prevention and control of cholera 2030 is being threatened by the outbreak of this pathology.
For him, the efforts made by the Executive to protect populations are intrinsically linked to the ability to effectively prevent and respond to outbreaks.
“It is with this understanding that we approach our current challenge, recognizing that the battle against cholera is not fought in isolation, but is part of a broader effort, under a multisectoral approach, with a positive impact on the social and environmental determinants of health”, he highlighted.
In the last two years, the SADC region has recorded recurrent outbreaks of cholera, also influenced by climate change. The main countries are Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, the United Republic of Tanzania and South Africa, the latter of which reported three imported cases.
According to Sílvia Lutucuta, this year's outbreak was aggravated by the festive season, rains and floods that served as a trigger for a new wave of cases, a situation that could worsen even further, taking into account a season of more intense rain.
According to the minister, cholera outbreaks in the SADC Region are occurring in a context of natural disasters, such as floods, droughts, humanitarian crises and multiple outbreaks of other diseases, including Monkey Pox, polio, measles, COVID -19, among others.
According to the minister, the main factors continue to be inadequate access to health services, drinking water, poor environmental sanitation and sustainable financing for an effective response.
Additionally, she considers it imperative to strengthen epidemiological, laboratory and environmental surveillance and promote surveillance of means of transport, through port, airport, road and rail border points.
She also defended the need to strengthen and comply with the vaccination schedule and the promotion of CREC among communities with the necessary information and knowledge about the prevention and control of the disease.
She highlighted that many countries have limited resources to purchase medical products, tests and laboratory reagents for adequate and timely case management.
“Of most concern is our limited capacity to produce medicines and vaccines and the complex mechanisms for accessing vaccines for cholera prevention,” she said.
She also advocated increasing resources for countries to invest in the control and elimination of cholera by 2030, with the support of development partners.
She recognized that health influences the productivity of all sectors, people and livelihoods, impacting both the national and regional macro and microeconomy.
It is in this context, she stresses, that the response must be coordinated, comprehensive and holistic, involving leaders and community members to prevent and control the spread of cholera from country to country, ensuring the sustainable development of States.
She emphasized that the response to cholera is not just up to the Health Sector, but also to others because they are all involved in improving the living conditions of the populations. EVC/OHA/DOJ
