On the muddy quay of Vridi Akobrakré, a small fishing village just outside Abidjan, the economic capital of Côte d’Ivoire in West Africa, a Red Cross volunteer pours treated water into the hands of a mother. Her children splash barefoot in a stagnant lagoon, unaware that just days earlier, three of their neighbors died from severe diarrhea. At this moment, the Abidjan cholera outbreak is more than a headline. It is a preventable crisis, driven by poverty and poor sanitation.

The Abidjan Cholera Outbreak and Emergency Response

On June 5, 2025, the Pasteur Institute identified Vibrio cholerae in the water. This bacterium causes cholera, a severe diarrheal disease that can be fatal within hours if left untreated. Health authorities immediately confirmed a cholera outbreak in Abidjan — the first in 15 years. The rainy season had just started, with flooding quickly spreading contaminated water. The dense housing of the most impoverished neighborhoods further fueled the outbreak, resulting in 491 confirmed cases and 20 deaths.

The government executed a swift emergency response. Water trucks delivered clean water to affected neighborhoods and temporary treatment centers opened for rapid patient care. Local health teams collaborated with the World Health Organization (WHO), which provided support for water treatment, chlorine distribution and hygiene education. NGOs such as UNICEF and the Red Cross established hand-washing stations and trained volunteers to monitor symptoms within the community.

Poverty and Neighborhood Vulnerability

Vridi Akobrakré, where the bacterium was first confirmed and similar informal settlements around Abidjan remain highly vulnerable. Homes are built above lagoons and most have no latrines or sewage systems. Flooding spreads contaminated water through streets, schools and marketplaces.

Poverty compounds the risk. Families cannot afford safe water and crowded homes make it difficult to maintain proper hygiene practices. The repeated vulnerability of these neighborhoods shows that emergency measures alone cannot prevent future outbreaks. Without structural changes, cholera will continue to strike the poorest communities.

NGO Response and Preventative Solutions

NGOs play a crucial role in addressing immediate risks and building resilience. The Red Cross distributes chlorine tablets and treats water points. UNICEF runs hygiene campaigns in schools and markets. Médecins Sans Frontières operates mobile treatment centers and trains rapid response teams. Experts report that ongoing monitoring, broader distribution of hygiene kits and public awareness campaigns are essential to prevent future outbreaks.

Preventing another cholera outbreak in Abidjan also requires long-term investment. Governments must build sewage networks, drainage systems, formal latrines and pipe clean water for low-income neighborhoods. Equitable urban planning and continuous hygiene education help communities adopt safer practices. Subsidized access to safe water, community sanitation programs and strengthened health systems, along with the establishment of surveillance and rapid response teams, are crucial.

Since the cholera outbreak began, hygiene campaigns have reached thousands of schoolchildren, teaching proper handwashing and safe water practices. Early signs suggest these interventions are slowing the spread of cholera. However, experts warn that without continued support and infrastructure improvements, outbreaks will recur.

Turning Crisis Into Change

Back in Vridi Akobrakré, the mother dips her children’s hands into treated water and watches volunteers continue their rounds. For families affected by the Abidjan cholera outbreak, clean water remains fragile. But the crisis has sparked meaningful action. Community volunteers are now trained to monitor symptoms, treat contaminated water and educate their neighbors on proper hygiene.

NGOs continue to distribute chlorine tablets, hygiene kits and set up hand-washing stations in schools and markets. If governments and international partners invest in sanitation, infrastructure and poverty reduction, these efforts can become permanent. Safe water systems, drainage improvements and community-led education programs could protect residents from future outbreaks.

What began as a tragedy is turning into a blueprint for resilience, showing that even the most vulnerable communities can lead the way when crisis meets coordinated action.

– Tina Kusal

Tina is based in Montrose, CA, USA and focuses on Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr