Cholera vaccination campaign launched in Darfur targeting over 1.8 million people – africanews.com

Report on Cholera Outbreak Response in Darfur and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

A large-scale oral cholera vaccination campaign was launched in Darfur on September 21, 2025, targeting 1.86 million people. This intervention is a direct response to a severe cholera outbreak and is critically aligned with several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). The crisis underscores the challenges posed by conflict to achieving SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).

Outbreak Status and Impact on SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The campaign is an urgent public health measure to combat a rapidly spreading cholera epidemic, directly addressing SDG Target 3.3, which aims to end the epidemics of communicable diseases.

• Reported Cases: Over 12,000 in Darfur since May.
• Reported Fatalities: 358 deaths.
• Campaign Goal: The 10-day initiative aims to vaccinate 97% of the population in six affected localities to halt transmission and prevent further loss of life.

Root Causes and Link to SDG 6 and SDG 16

The outbreak’s severity is linked to a failure to meet fundamental development goals, exacerbated by regional instability.

• SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation): The report confirms that cholera is thriving due to poor water and sanitation conditions. The lack of access to safe water is a primary driver of the epidemic, highlighting a critical gap in achieving SDG 6.
• SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions): Ongoing conflict has crippled health services and safe water infrastructure, demonstrating how the absence of peace directly undermines public health and institutional capacity.

Multi-Stakeholder Response and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The operational response exemplifies SDG 17, showcasing a global partnership to address the crisis through coordinated action.

1. Coordinating Bodies: The campaign is a joint effort by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, and Sudan’s Ministry of Health.
2. Funding and Support Partners: Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision have provided critical support.
3. Logistical Operations: Partners successfully mobilized vaccines through challenging cross-border operations, a testament to effective international cooperation.
4. Implementation: WHO teams are on the ground in Nyala and Ad Daein, providing training, managing supply chains, and monitoring campaign progress to ensure effective delivery.

Integrated Strategy for Sustainable Health Outcomes

The response combines immediate medical intervention with long-term preventative measures essential for sustainable health security.

• Vaccination: Provides immediate protection against cholera (SDG 3).
• Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH): Alongside the campaign, efforts to provide clean water and promote hygiene are crucial for addressing the root cause of the disease (SDG 6).
• Treatment: Ensuring access to fast treatment for those infected is a key component of the public health response (SDG 3).

Analysis of SDGs in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article’s central theme is the public health crisis caused by a cholera outbreak and the massive vaccination campaign launched to combat it. This directly relates to ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The article explicitly states that “Cholera thrives in poor water and sanitation conditions” and mentions that the conflict has crippled “safe water access,” directly linking the disease outbreak to a lack of clean water and sanitation.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The response to the crisis is a collaborative effort. The article highlights the partnership between “WHO, UNICEF, and Sudan’s Ministry of Health, backed by Gavi and ICG partners,” demonstrating a multi-stakeholder partnership to achieve a common goal.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Under SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being):
  • Target 3.3: “By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases.” The entire article focuses on the urgent response to a cholera epidemic, which is a water-borne disease. The vaccination campaign is a direct action to combat this communicable disease.
  • Target 3.8: “Achieve universal health coverage… and access to safe, effective, quality and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.” The campaign aims to provide cholera vaccines to 1.86 million people, which is a clear effort to ensure access to essential vaccines for a vulnerable population.
  • Target 3.d: “Strengthen the capacity of all countries… for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks.” The mobilization of international and national bodies to respond to the cholera outbreak is an example of managing a national health risk.
• Under SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation):
  • Target 6.1: “By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.” The article identifies the lack of “safe water access” as a root cause of the cholera outbreak, highlighting the failure to meet this target in the affected region.
  • Target 6.2: “By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all…” The article mentions that “poor water and sanitation conditions” are the breeding ground for cholera, pointing to the critical need to address this target.
• Under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals):
  • Target 17.16: “Enhance the global partnership for sustainable development, complemented by multi-stakeholder partnerships…” The article provides a direct example of this target in action by naming the collaborating entities: WHO, UNICEF, Sudan’s Ministry of Health, Gavi, and ICG partners, who have mobilized resources and expertise.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For Target 3.3 (End epidemics):
  • Incidence of cholera: The article states there are “over 12,000 cases,” which serves as a baseline indicator for the incidence of this water-borne disease.
  • Mortality rate attributed to cholera: The article mentions “358 deaths,” providing a direct measure of the mortality rate associated with the disease.
• For Target 3.8 (Universal health coverage):
  • Proportion of the population covered by immunizations: The article explicitly mentions the campaign is “targeting 1.86 million people” and “aims to reach 97% of the population in affected areas.” This provides a clear indicator for measuring vaccine coverage.
• For Targets 6.1 and 6.2 (Clean water and sanitation):
  • While no specific numbers are given, the article implies a very low proportion of the population using safely managed drinking water and sanitation services by stating that access is “crippling” and conditions are “poor.” Progress would be measured by an increase in this proportion.
• For Target 17.16 (Partnerships):
  • The existence and operational nature of the partnership (WHO, UNICEF, Sudan’s Ministry of Health, Gavi, ICG) is itself an indicator. The article mentions their actions, such as “mobilized vaccines through challenging cross-border operations” and “training vaccinators, transporting supplies, and monitoring progress,” which demonstrate the effectiveness of the partnership.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: africanews.com