** Cholera in Haut-Katanga: towards a collective response? **
The recent exchange between the provincial Minister of Health of Haut-Katanga, Joseph Sambi Bulanda, and the adviser to the National Minister of Health, Dr Fabrice Kankolongo, highlights a worrying health crisis in the region. Since the beginning of 2025, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has faced an epidemic of cholera, a particularly acute situation in the province of Haut-Katanga, which has recorded an increase in cases. This article proposes to explore the causes and consequences of this epidemic as well as the efforts put in place to remedy it.
** An ancestral public health problem **
Cholera is often designated as “dirty hands disease”. It is mainly spread in areas where access to drinking water and health infrastructure is limited. In the DRC, armed conflicts, sometimes fragile governance and failing infrastructure exacerbated the conditions conducive to such an epidemic. The situation of Haut-Katanga is not different and raises a crucial question: how do these historical and structural conditions influence public health in this region?
The intervention of Dr. Kankolongo, focused on strengthening provincial teams and activating community activities, reveals awareness of the need for a strong local commitment. However, this also raises questions about the effectiveness of existing strategies. What lessons can we learn from the interventions in the region? Are they sufficient in the face of the current severity of the situation?
** Collaboration between the central and provincial government **
Minister Joseph Sambi Bulanda expressed his satisfaction with the collaboration between the central and provincial authorities. This partnership could be essential to mobilize the necessary resources and implement actions that are both preventive and healing. The mention of support at the provincial level suggests a potential for continuous improvement in the fight against cholera.
But beyond simple administrative support, it would be relevant to question the mechanisms of monitoring these actions. How is the local population involved in the implementation of these measures? A truly effective approach should include a dialogue with communities in order to ensure that interventions meet the real needs of the inhabitants.
** Hygiene and awareness: pillar of the struggle **
The health authorities insist on the importance of respecting hygiene rules to fight cholera. This raises another question: how to effectively promote hygiene behavior in regions where access to drinking water is often a luxury? Is awareness is undoubtedly a key component, but is it carried out sufficiently targeted and adapted to each local context?
Awareness initiatives should also adapt to cultural and social realities in the region. Could we, for example, consider education programs in collaboration with community leaders, which are often more listened to and respected?
** Prospects for the future **
The Haut-Katanga cholera challenge is symptomatic of much larger public health problems. To truly attack this epidemic, it is essential to respond to its underlying causes, such as poverty, lack of access to Safe drinking water, and the absence of adequate health infrastructures. Current efforts, although necessary, could benefit from a more integrated and systemic approach.
In the fight against epidemics like cholera, it is essential not to lose sight of long -term investments. The collaboration between the national government, the provincial authorities, the NGOs and the international community will be crucial to not only fight against this epidemic, but also to strengthen the country’s health system as a whole.
The cholera epidemic in Haut-Katanga is a call for collective action to ensure a healthy and safe environment for the inhabitants. The response to this crisis could become a model of collaboration and community commitment to other public health challenges in the region. As discussions and activities emerge, it is imperative to keep emphasis on the needs of communities and the various realities of the province, to build a future where everyone’s health is not only a right, but also a tangible reality.