From crisis to control: Role of health communication in Nigeria’s cholera fight

Cholera continues to be a public health threat, disproportionately impacting Africa. In February 2025, Nigeria launched the National Strategic Plan of Action on Cholera Control (NSPACC) to eliminate cholera by 2030. The plan focuses on improving disease surveillance, expanding vaccination efforts, ensuring clean water access, and strengthening stakeholder coordination.

According to the WHO, in 2024, 804,721 cases and 5,805 deaths were recorded globally, with Africa accounting for 177,570 cases and 3,180 deaths. The surge in cholera cases, particularly in countries like Nigeria, Ethiopia, and the Republic of Congo, brings to the forefront the urgent need to address the crisis and seek sustainable solutions. The recent outbreak is prevalent in Nigeria, with 726 cholera-related deaths recorded in 2024 alone, which is the highest in Africa. These numbers are concerning and portray the urgent need for an emergency response to curb the epidemic.

Key challenges in cholera prevention
Cholera thrives in environments where water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure is lacking, and unfortunately, this is very common in internally displaced persons camps and conflict zones. Many displaced and vulnerable people do not have access to clean water or proper sanitation, which sets the stage for the disease to spread rapidly. Climate change has caused increased flooding, making the situation even more challenging. Conflicts across various regions continue to displace communities and disrupt essential services, making cholera outbreaks even harder to control. Additionally, vaccine shortages, weak disease surveillance, and the cross-border spread of cholera further complicate the fight. Also, limited health cooperation between neighbouring countries and porous borders only worsen matters, allowing the disease to move unchecked from one region to another, and many more challenges persist. However, with the right interventions, we can turn the tide.

The role of health communication
Although the statistics are alarming and paint a grim picture, cholera is a treatable and preventable disease when the necessary measures are taken to combat outbreaks. Strategic health communication, which targets public health responses, is important to tackle this crisis effectively. As a health communicator, I see an opportunity to mitigate the risk of cholera’s spread through thoughtful and targeted messaging to raise awareness, address misconceptions, and promote behavioural change, which is necessary to curb the rising cases of cholera.

The key question is: How can we effectively use health communication to curb and control the spread of cholera?
For Nigeria’s NSPACC and similar initiatives across Africa to succeed, communication must be intentional, culturally relevant, and action-driven. Public awareness is key; people must know how to protect themselves and their communities. Simple, clear messaging on safe water storage, proper handwashing with soap, and effective waste management can go a long way in helping families make informed choices on their health and general well-being. This is where the need to adapt Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) strategies to the local culture and language comes into play. For instance, illustrated posters explaining proper disposal of a child’s faeces or proper handwashing with soap are excellent teaching aids for families. Simple graphics can show safe methods for drinking water stored in drums, which is particularly helpful in areas with high illiteracy rates.

Schools are important in promoting hygiene education since children often influence their families’ habits. Incorporating lessons on water treatment, the significance of handwashing, sanitation and hygiene practices into the curriculum can help students share this vital information with their parents and caregivers.

Emergency Risk Communication (ERC) is key for minimising cholera outbreaks in regions facing displacement and conflict. Providing real-time updates on prevention techniques and symptoms through SMS alerts, radio broadcasts, and trusted community health workers can ensure that everyone can access critical information, even if they face language or literacy challenges. Visual guides can give clear instructions on how to purify water or what to look for as early symptoms, making lifesaving information more accessible.

Vaccine shortages require a careful communication strategy that balances the need to manage expectations with the importance of advocating for fair vaccine distribution. Public health campaigns should encourage additional prevention methods, such as boiling water or using water purification tablets, to help protect communities that are not receiving vaccines. At the same time, we must push for increased global vaccine production and ensure that those mostly at risk receive the necessary vaccines.

Improving community-led reporting systems can fill gaps in surveillance. We can enhance and improve response times by involving and training local volunteers to identify and report cholera cases through mobile platforms or SMS. When communities participate in data collection and receive regular updates on cholera trends, it builds trust and encourages proactive prevention efforts. This approach will help protect those who reside in rural areas and are most vulnerable.

A call for integrated communication strategies
Strategic health communication is not merely an auxiliary tool in the fight against cholera; it is a transformative force that reshapes behaviours, empowers communities, and fosters multi-sector collaboration. Integrating communication into broader health policies, infrastructure development, and emergency preparedness plans will shift responses from reactive to proactive and sustainable solutions.

With Nigeria taking a leadership role through its NSPACC, the rest of Africa has a model to follow. By leveraging culturally sensitive, evidence-based, and well-coordinated communication strategies, we can bridge health gaps, empower communities, and work towards a cholera-free Africa.
• Adesola Adeleke, a communications and media specialist with over 10 years of field experience, works with Aries Concept. She is passionate about health communication and runs Health Communication Africa, a platform dedicated to exploring solutions for improving health outcomes across the continent.