Cholera remains a significant global public health threat, closely linked to inequality and inadequate social and economic development. Since 2021, the world has seen a surge in cholera cases. As of late June 2025, over 287,000 cases and more than 3,100 deaths have been reported globally across 28 countries. Countries currently designated as being in an "acute crisis" include the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), South Sudan, Sudan, and Yemen.
Outbreaks are often fueled by heavy rains, flooding, conflict, overcrowding in displacement sites, and lack of access to clean water. Access to safe water, basic sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) is essential to prevent and control cholera. Communities play a critical role – they need to know how they can access these, what services are available and what they need to do. Community awareness about cholera, its spread and symptoms and prompt action can prevent the spread of the disease and save lives.
Lessons from recent responses highlight that technical interventions must be coupled with strong risk communication and community engagement. Community involvement is critical for building trust, sharing information, and ensuring that solutions are culturally appropriate and effective.
WHO's response to the global cholera crisis is structured around key pillars, including case management, surveillance, vaccination, and the critical integration of WASH, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC), and Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE).
The RCCE Collective Service, founded in June 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic to transform how the public health and the humanitarian sectors coordinate, implement, monitor, and resource collaborative approaches to community-led responses for public health emergencies, has been working on cholera outbreak response across the world. This is led by WHO, UNICEF and IFRC.
To support partners and health authorities on the frontlines, this webinar will provide a platform to share practical examples and successful strategies for integrating community-based action into cholera response efforts.
Objective
The primary purpose of this webinar is to share examples and highlight successful RCCE strategies for ensuring that management of cholera is guided by and responsive to the priorities and concerns of affected communities.
Specifically, this webinar will:
- Share examples of how to successfully integrate data-driven, community-centered approaches to management of cholera, including but not limited to RCCE and WASH,
- Feature insights from local and national organizations on practical RCCE approaches, is making a difference in community awareness and actions including in preventing transmission,
- Share best practice and improve understanding of how to support communities to identify and implement WASH solutions aligned to the local concept.
Speakers
Introduction of EPI-WIN, housekeeping, introduction to topic and speakers and slido: Dr Supriya Bezbaruah, Technical Officer (Lead, EPI-WIN and CSO engagement), WHO Health Emergencies Programme
Welcome remarks: Dr Stella Chungong, Director, Health Emergency Preparedness, WHO Health Emergencies Programme
The role of community protection in cholera outbreaks (intro to the series): Dr Kai von Harbou, Unit Head, Community Protection and Resilience, Health Emergency Preparedness Department, WHO Health Emergencies Programme
Technical Session
- Moderator: Dana McLaughlin, Coordinator, Collective Service
- The global cholera crisis: An overview of the work of GFTCC and current situation and the critical role of integrating RCCE approaches: Marion Martinez Valiente, Coordinator, GTFCC/WHO Cholera Programme & Kathryn Alberti, Technical Officer, WHO Cholera Programme
- Role of Community data in the 2024 Zambia response and application: Tikulirekuti Banda, RCCE Expert, UNICEF Zambia
- RCCE approaches for rapid community awareness and action in a cholera outbreak: Ibrahim Abdelkhier, NIDAA – Sudanese Development Call Organization, Sudan
Q&A: Moderated by Dana McLaughlin, Coordinator, Collective Service
Closing: Dr Supriya Bezbaruah, Technical Officer (Lead, EPI-WIN and CSO engagement), WHO Health Emergencies Programme.