A proactive effort to combat cholera outbreaks is underway in Somalia’s Jubaland State, a region bordering Kenya and Ethiopia and known as the Mandela Triangle. From August 12 to 16, 2023, a single-dose reactive cholera vaccination campaign is being conducted in five districts: Afmadow, Belet Xaawo, Luuq, Doolow, and Dhobley. The campaign targets a total of 590,803 individuals aged one year and above, including pregnant women. Notably, the vaccination effort is synchronized across border communities in Ethiopia and Kenya.
This 5-day house-to-house initiative is being carried out by 788 vaccination teams, each composed of two vaccinators, a data clerk, and a cold chain attendant. Support from social mobilizers will further bolster the operation. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) are collaborating with Somalia’s Federal Ministry of Health and Human Services and the State Ministry of Health of Jubaland State to execute the campaign. Gavi – the Vaccine Alliance – is supplying vaccines and funds for this crucial intervention.
By the end of July 2023, Somalia had reported 11,704 suspected cases of cholera, resulting in 30 deaths. These cases emerged from 28 drought-affected districts in the country. Alarmingly, more than half of these cases, around 54%, involved children under the age of 5. Among this demographic, 52% were girls.
The Minister of Health of Jubaland State, H.E. Ismail Ahmed Garas, expressed profound gratitude to Gavi for their timely support in addressing the cholera and measles threats in the Mandela triangle. He lauded the contributions of WHO and UNICEF in equipping health workers, social mobilizers, and data collectors for this critical campaign. Despite challenges within the health system, the minister underscored the unwavering commitment to saving lives and hailed the partnership with these organizations as a potential life-saver for countless individuals.
Cholera outbreaks have persisted in Somalia since 2017. A lack of access to safe water and sanitation, compounded by natural disasters like droughts and floods, exacerbated by prolonged conflict and large-scale displacement, has contributed to these recurring outbreaks. The ongoing drought and climatic shocks in Somalia have had dire consequences, displacing over 770,000 people internally and intensifying food insecurity. These conditions elevate the risk of cholera infection and other waterborne diseases. Approximately 49% of Somalia’s population, around 7.7 million people, require some form of humanitarian assistance or protection. Of these, 6.13 million are affected by the current drought.
Dr. Mamunur Rahman Malik, WHO Representative to Somalia, underscored the urgency of preventing major cholera and measles outbreaks amidst the ongoing drought crisis. He emphasized the need for timely and collective action, referencing the lessons learned from the global COVID-19 pandemic response. Dr. Malik highlighted the contagious nature of cholera and measles, emphasizing the importance of a swift and high-quality intervention, even in the face of a fragile health system.
While cholera remains endemic in Somalia, the vaccination campaign, which administers a single dose, serves as a supplementary measure to control potential outbreaks. To mitigate cholera transmission and other waterborne diseases, the Ministry of Health, supported by WHO and UNICEF, is raising awareness among target populations about crucial preventive measures. These measures include maintaining personal hygiene, ensuring access to safe water, practicing safe sanitation, enhancing active surveillance, engaging communities, and promoting sensitization.
Since the beginning of 2023, over 1.4 million individuals in 15 drought-affected districts have already received the single-dose cholera vaccine, marking a significant step towards curbing the spread of this preventable disease.
