SADC to Convene Extraordinary Summit to Address Cholera Outbreaks
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has announced that it will hold a virtual Extraordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government on February 2, 2024, to discuss the recent cholera situation affecting several Member States in the region.
Chaired by SADC Chairperson, His Excellency João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, President of the Republic, the summit aims to address the cholera outbreaks and assess the state of preparedness of SADC Member States.
The Extraordinary Summit will focus on receiving and considering reports concerning the cholera situation in affected Member States, as well as evaluating the responses and preparedness measures implemented to combat the outbreaks.
The decision to convene the summit comes against the backdrop of a multi-country cholera outbreak that has impacted various SADC Member States.
The fight against cholera aligns with the African Regional Framework for the Implementation of the Global Strategy for Cholera Prevention and Control (2018-2030). This framework provides a comprehensive strategy for cholera control at the country level, aiming to eliminate cholera as a threat to public health.
Preceding the Extraordinary Summit, key preparatory meetings took place:
- January 27, 2024: Extraordinary Meeting of the Committee of SADC Ministers of Health with technical support from the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) for Eastern and Southern Africa, and the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC).
- January 29, 2024: Extraordinary Meeting of the SADC Council of Ministers.
The SADC Summit holds the responsibility for the overall policy direction and control of functions within the community, making it the primary policy-making institution of SADC.
