By Gloria Ikibah
The European Union has approved €2.3 million in emergency humanitarian funding to help Nigeria, Cameroon, Chad and the Central African Republic contain the worsening cholera outbreak spreading across West and Central Africa.
The intervention comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) reported more than 61,000 cholera cases across the African region within the first five months of 2026, raising concerns over the growing public health crisis. 
Nigeria, which has recorded one of the highest disease burdens, will receive the largest share of the funding, amounting to €1.5 million.
According to the European Commission, the support will be used to expand emergency response teams, provide essential medical supplies, distribute cholera treatment kits and strengthen water, sanitation and hygiene interventions.
The funding will also support the treatment of public water sources and household water, improve epidemiological surveillance in hard-to-reach communities and strengthen case management, risk communication and public awareness campaigns.
Cameroon will receive €100,000 to support outbreak containment efforts through the deployment of additional personnel, provision of essential medicines and establishment of more cholera treatment units and oral rehydration centres in affected communities.
In the Central African Republic, €500,000 has been earmarked to improve case management, expand vaccination campaigns and strengthen water, sanitation and hygiene programmes.
The funding will also support surveillance, case detection, community engagement and provision of safe and dignified burials.
Chad will receive €200,000 to improve access to clean water, strengthen sanitation services and support community-based surveillance and treatment programmes aimed at stopping the spread of the disease.
European Commissioner for Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, said the outbreak highlighted the devastating consequences of inadequate access to basic healthcare and clean water.
“Cholera is preventable and treatable. Yet it still threatens lives when people lack something as basic as safe water and healthcare.
“At a time when humanitarian needs are growing and resources are shrinking, Europe is not looking away.
“This emergency funding will help our partners act quickly, contain the outbreaks and protect the communities most at risk,” Lahbib said.
Health experts say cholera is caused by the Vibrio cholerae bacterium and is commonly transmitted through contaminated water or food.
The disease can cause severe diarrhoea, leading to rapid dehydration and shock if left untreated.
Although cholera remains a major public health challenge in many developing countries, the European Commission noted that it is not a common health problem in Europe and that the risk of transmission from imported cases remains low.
The latest intervention underscores growing international concern over the spread of cholera across Africa, where poor sanitation, limited access to clean water and humanitarian crises continue to fuel outbreaks.
Public health experts have repeatedly stressed that improving access to safe drinking water and strengthening healthcare systems remain the most effective long-term solutions to preventing future outbreaks.
