EU releases €2.3 million to tackle cholera in West, Central Africa

The European Union is providing €2.3 million in emergency humanitarian funding to four West and Central African nations to help contain escalating cholera outbreaks. Nigeria, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and Chad will receive the aid, which the European Commission states will bolster critical response efforts.

The funds are earmarked for a range of interventions, including improving case management, strengthening surveillance systems, supporting vaccination campaigns, and enhancing water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) measures in affected communities. Nigeria is set to receive the largest portion, €1.5 million, to expand intervention teams and improve water treatment.

Cameroon will receive €100,000 for outbreak containment and case management, while the Central African Republic gets €500,000 to scale up case management, vaccination, and surveillance. Chad will use its €200,000 to improve WASH access and community surveillance to break transmission chains.

This EU assistance arrives as the World Health Organization reports a significant number of cholera cases across the African Region. EU Commissioner Hadja Lahbib emphasized that cholera is preventable and treatable, stressing the importance of this funding to protect vulnerable populations lacking access to safe water and healthcare.

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Europe is not looking away. This emergency funding will help our partners act quickly, contain the outbreaks and protect the communities most at risk.