Harare, 19 December 2008--The World Health Organization Regional Director for Africa, Dr Luis Sambo, has visited Zimbabwe to support the cholera epidemic response efforts.

During the three-day visit from 16-19 December 08, Dr Sambo held discussions with national authorities and partners on ways and means of bringing an end to the spread of the cholera epidemic.

The discussions focused not only on the need to strengthen the response to the epidemic but also the importance of raising the level of the current human, financial and logistical resources to improve the health situation.

Dr Sambo advised that beyond cholera, other specific health problems may become worse if the key social and economic determinants of health are not urgently improved. He highlighted the importance of inter-sectoral approach in the prevention of cholera.

An important agreement was reached with the Minister of Health of Zimbabwe - Dr David Parirenyatwa to establish the Cholera Command and Control Centre, jointly operated by WHO and the Ministry of Health of Zimbabwe. The Cholera Control Centre will coordinate and boost up the country's capacity to manage the response particularly in the areas of disease surveillance, case management, water and sanitation, social mobilization and logistics.

The WHO Africa Regional Director also held working sessions with the WHO staff from Headquarters, the Zimbabwe Country office and the Inter-country Support team who are involved in the cholera response effort.

He commended the efforts of bilateral and multilateral partners,
for their commitment and effective support in addressing the response to the epidemic. Dr Sambo welcomed the recent SADC initiative to be involved in the ongoing efforts and expressed the hope that cross-border activities will be further strengthened and stop the epidemic.

He assured the government and partners that the WHO Director-General, Dr Margaret Chan, is firmly committed to mobilising additional technical resources at global level to boost the current capacity of response.

For further information please contact

Collins Boakye-Agyemang, Communications and Advocacy Officer
Tel : 00 47 241 39420
E-mail : boakyec [at] afro.who.int (boakyec[at]afro[dot]who[dot]int)