Combatting Flooding and Cholera Outbreak in Malawi
In response to widespread flooding and a worsening cholera outbreak in Malawi, Project HOPE is supporting the Africa Public Health Network (APHN)’s coordinated emergency response to support impacted communities in the Blantyre and Lilongwe districts.
The 2025–2026 rainy season has brought devastating flooding across the country, displacing thousands, damaging critical sanitation infrastructure, and disrupting access to health services. These conditions have accelerated the spread of cholera, driven by contaminated water sources and collapsed sanitation systems. Cholera is a highly infectious waterborne disease that causes severe diarrhea and dehydration. If left untreated, cholera can be fatal within hours, with mortality rate of over 50%, however with timely treatment the mortality rate drops to less than 1%.
Project HOPE is supporting APHN to implement a targeted response in the districts most affected by cholera transmission and internal displacement brought on by flooding. The program interventions focus on distributing critical water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) supplies, expanding community awareness of cholera prevention, and improving access to essential health services. By the end of April 2026, the initiative aims to reduce cholera incidence by 50% across affected communities.
Implementation is being carried out in close collaboration with government authorities, district health offices, traditional leaders, and community structures. This approach prioritizes community engagement, accountability, and local ownership to ensure interventions remain responsive to evolving needs on the ground.
This flooding and cholera response was borne out of Project HOPE’s Africa Regional Emergency Response Network, which has brought together local and national NGOs across the continent to strengthen local capacity and improve the speed, quality, and effectiveness of humanitarian response during crises.
Since 2023, Project HOPE has been strengthening the capacity of Malawi’s local health system to prevent new HIV infections and improve access to services for children, adolescents, and families through the Ana ndi Achinyamata Patsogolo Children and Youth First project (ANAPA).
