Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health and Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI) have been responding to the cholera outbreak in the country since August 26, 2022.
With support from WHO and other stakeholders, the World Health Organization (WHO) has set up 17 standard cholera treatment centers across the country to ensure that those affected receive rapid and effective care and treatment.
These Cholera Treatment Centers (CTCs) are self-contained medical facilities operating 24/7 with designated rooms for screening, triage, observation, admissions, recovery, waste disposal, and more.
This initiative is to improve the availability, accessibility, and quality of patient care for cholera treatment in 8 regions of Ethiopia, including Addis Ababa City, Afar, Amhara, Central Ethiopia, Dire Dawa, Oromia, Sidama, and Southwest Ethiopia Peoples’ Region.
The CTCs have been equipped with medical equipment and demarcated layouts to prevent cross-infection and maintain standard infection prevention precautions. WHO has also printed, distributed, and posted standard case management and follow-up protocols for healthcare workers providing services at the CTCs.
Community participation and ownership were stressed as important for the proper utilization of CTCs during the handover ceremonies of CTCs to the respective regional health bureaus in Southern Ethiopia and Oromia regions by Dr. Patrick ABOK, WHO Ethiopia Emergency Preparedness and Response team lead.
The establishment of these CTCs is a significant step towards controlling the cholera outbreak in Ethiopia and provides hope for those affected by this deadly disease.
