Today, the Republic of Angola had the honor of chairing the Extraordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) on the urgent cholera situation in the region.

Heads of States and Government were joined by the Executive Secretary of SADC, alongside representatives from vital international partners including Africa CDC, WHO, UNICEF, and WFP.

Expressing heartfelt condolences, the Summit stood in solidarity with affected countries and families, acknowledging the tragic loss of lives. The Summit endorsed a set of robust recommendations to combat the cholera outbreak effectively, emphasizing the need for collaborative, multisectoral efforts across Member States.

Member States were urged to implement various measures, including:

• Developing and implementing comprehensive response plans
• Enhancing regional collaboration for early detection and prevention
• Jointly planning and executing cross-border vaccination campaigns
• Investing in climate-resilient WASH programs
• Accelerating local manufacturing of cholera vaccines and essential supplies
• Increasing investment in WASH infrastructure and sustainable water supply
• Strengthening accountability tools for monitoring progress

The Summit lauded the invaluable support of international partners and designated his Excellency Mr. Hakainde Hichilema as the regional Cholera Champion, tasked with leading the fight against cholera in the SADC region.

Together, we stand united in our resolve to combat cholera and safeguard the health of our communities.