The initiative, which covers Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Niger and Nigeria, is aimed at improving preparedness, strengthening disease surveillance and ensuring faster responses to cholera outbreaks across the region.
The WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Mohamed Janabi, disclosed the development in a post on X on Monday.
Janabi said the agreement was signed on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81) in New York, United States.
According to him, the partnership includes a bilateral agreement designed to strengthen cholera preparedness and response systems across the Lake Chad Basin, where countries continue to face public health challenges linked to outbreaks and limited access to healthcare in vulnerable communities.
Focus on Early Detection
Janabi said one of the major objectives of the initiative was to strengthen coordination among health authorities in the five participating countries.
He explained that improved coordination would help health authorities detect outbreaks earlier and respond more rapidly when cases emerge.
The programme will also strengthen surveillance systems and outbreak detection mechanisms, enabling authorities to identify emerging threats and mobilise interventions before outbreaks escalate.
Janabi said the initiative was expected to protect more than six million people across the five countries through stronger surveillance, preparedness and coordinated emergency response systems.
The WHO official said the partnership would also focus on ensuring that people affected by cholera have access to life-saving treatment, particularly during outbreaks when delays in receiving medical attention can have serious consequences.
Regional Response to Cross-Border Threat
The five countries covered by the programme share interconnected populations and trade and movement routes, making coordinated disease surveillance particularly important in containing outbreaks that can spread across borders.
The partnership is therefore expected to strengthen regional collaboration while supporting national health authorities in their efforts to prepare for and respond to cholera emergencies.
The WHO and KSrelief funding will support interventions designed to improve countries’ ability to detect cases, coordinate responses and provide timely treatment to affected populations.
The initiative comes as health authorities and humanitarian organisations continue to emphasise the need for stronger preparedness and rapid response systems in regions vulnerable to infectious disease outbreaks.
By combining resources and expertise across the Lake Chad Basin, the programme seeks to reduce the impact of cholera outbreaks and strengthen the capacity of health systems to respond to future emergencies.