The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has reported over 178,000 cases of cholera in 16 countries in Eastern and Southern Africa from January 2024 to March 2025.
Worsened by limited access to water, sanitation, hygiene and health services, UNICEF revealed that the alarming number has resulted in close to 2,900 deaths, many of which are children.
UNICEF Regional Director for Eastern and Southern Africa, Etleva Kadilli, maintained that access to safe water is a fundamental need, vital for the survival and development of children, and most importantly, a human right. "We have seen the devastating impacts when communities do not have access to water, sanitation and hygiene services, especially during droughts, floods and disease outbreaks," stated Kadili in a press statement sent to newsrooms.
Across the region, South Sudan and Angola have faced the most severe cholera outbreaks, with children under 15 years of age comprising 50 per cent of cases in South Sudan and 40 per cent in Angola.
