ADDIS ABABA, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian government has reiterated its plan to eliminate cholera in 2028, two years ahead of the global plan.
The statement was made by Minister of Health Lia Tadesse, who highlighted that several cholera outbreaks from 2015 to 2021 resulted in over 105,000 cases and caused thousands of deaths across the country.
The work of preventing and controlling frequent outbreaks is "very difficult and needs high cost," state-run Ethiopian News Agency quoted Tadesse as saying late Monday.
Noting ongoing "extensive works" by the Ethiopian government and its partners to reduce the disease exposure of communities, Tadesse said the eastern African country envisages eliminating cholera by 2028, two years ahead of the global plan.
The global strategy to end cholera, dubbed "Ending Cholera-A Global Roadmap to 2030", operationalizes a new global strategy for cholera control at the country level and provides a concrete path toward a world in which cholera is no longer a threat to public health. The initiative aims to support countries in reducing cholera deaths by 90 percent by the year 2030.
Cholera disproportionately affects the poorest and most vulnerable countries, said Tadesse, adding that Ethiopia has witnessed several cholera outbreaks during the past years that caused "thousands of deaths."
She said the Ethiopian government officially launched its National Cholera Elimination Plan in May this year. "The plan is a testament to Ethiopia's commitment toward a multi-sectoral approach for reducing 90 percent of cholera deaths by the year."
Ethiopia is currently experiencing a cholera outbreak in southeastern parts of the country.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), some 669 cholera cases, including 24 deaths, have been reported in the affected areas as of Dec. 14.
The OCHA also warned that close to 743,000 people are at high risk of the ongoing cholera outbreak across the eight affected districts. ■
