March 29, 2021
NewsIn October 2020, WaterAid took on the chairing role of the WASH Working Group (WASH WG) of the Global Taskforce for Cholera Control (GTFCC), following UNICEF’s 3-year term.
As a well-established international NGO focusing on long-term development of water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) systems, WaterAid focuses on increasing sustainable access to WASH for the most vulnerable communities, including those most at risk of cholera. WaterAid will bring this expertise and experience to address WASH components in long term cholera prevention aligned with the End Cholera Roadmap 2030.
The WASH WG will be officially chaired by Dr Nurullah Awal, Health Adviser of WaterAid Bangladesh, and supported by the wider organisation, aiming to ensure WASH is adequately addressed within efforts to eliminate cholera globally. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the group will not meet in person this year, however a series of four webinars will be held across the course of 2021 to facilitate learning and sharing of experience and resources.
The first webinar held in March focused on the experience in Zanzibar towards elimination of cholera by 2027, and in April we will hear progress on the implementation of the Multi-sectoral Cholera Control Plan in Zambia. The third webinar in July will look at WASH-related research within the GTFCC Research Agenda, and finally later in the year in September, the fourth webinar will focus on new technical aspects and resources related to WASH for cholera. Members of WaterAid also look forward to joining and contributing to discussions and the review of documents of other sub-groups, namely OCV, advocacy, data and epidemiology.
WaterAid is delighted to be taking on this role at a critical moment in the fight against cholera, ensuring that prevention of cholera through sustainable and equitable WASH is a fundamental pillar of cholera control.
