DR Congo: Interview - Does The Fight Against Cholera Require the Mobilization of The Entire Community?

Interview with Dr. Liliane Shacko, Acting Chief Medical Officer of the Manika Health Zone

In Lualaba Province, the city of Kolwezi has been facing a cholera outbreak since the end of 2025. The Manika Health Zone, particularly the Mutoshi Health Area, was among the first areas affected. Amid challenges related to hygiene conditions, high population mobility, and the rainy season, health teams have been mobilizing to contain the disease.
Dr. Liliane Shacko, Acting Chief Medical Officer of the Manika Health Zone, explains the evolution of the situation and the efforts underway to protect communities.

Can you explain how this outbreak started in the Manika Health Zone?

The outbreak began on December 24, 2025. As with any public health event of this nature, investigations first had to be conducted to confirm that the disease was indeed cholera. After the necessary epidemiological assessments and laboratory confirmations, the official declaration of the outbreak was made by the provincial authority about two weeks later. The first cases were recorded in the Manika Health Zone, specifically in the Mutoshi Health Area, where hygiene conditions remain relatively fragile. This occurred at the beginning of the rainy season, a period when the risk of water contamination increases, while the population had not yet been sufficiently sensitized to preventive measures.

What is the current scale of the outbreak?

Since the beginning of the outbreak, more than two hundred cases have been recorded, with nineteen reported deaths. Unfortunately, a large proportion of these deaths occurred within the community. At the start of the outbreak, several sick individuals were treated within the community, without immediate referral to health facilities. This situation contributed to the spread of the disease before patients were eventually referred to the Cholera Treatment Center (CTC) established at the Mwangeji General Referral Hospital.

What measures have been implemented to contain the outbreak?

Over time, the situation has gradually improved thanks to the coordinated efforts of several actors. The provincial authorities supported the medical response, while significant efforts were made to strengthen prevention and community awareness activities. Municipal authorities also contributed to the response by drilling a borehole to provide safe drinking water for the population. In addition, fifteen water chlorination points have been installed in different areas to reduce the risk of contamination.

What are the main challenges in managing this outbreak today?

Kolwezi is a city characterized by high population mobility, largely linked to economic and mining activities. This dynamic encourages movement between different health zones. As a result, even though the situation has stabilized in some areas, new cases continue to arrive from neighboring health zones, particularly Dilala and Lualaba, which refer patients to Manika for treatment. To strengthen the response, a second cholera treatment center has recently been established, helping to reduce transfer delays and break the chain of transmission.

What role do partners play in this response?

Partners play a crucial role in the response to this outbreak. World Vision, for instance, has provided significant support since the early stages of the crisis, particularly in community awareness activities and the chlorination of water points. Teams supported by the organization are still working in the field to strengthen community awareness and preventive practices, which remain essential to limiting the spread of the disease.

What message would you like to share with the population?

Cholera is a preventable and treatable disease, provided that people act quickly and follow basic prevention measures. We encourage communities to drink treated or chlorinated water, wash their hands regularly with soap, maintain a clean environment, and immediately seek care at the nearest health facility if symptoms such as diarrhea or vomiting appear. The fight against cholera can only succeed through the active engagement of the entire community.