Containment of the acute watery diarrhea outbreak in Sudan: the WASH side of the story

Sudan is prone to WASH related epidemics including repeated Acute Watery Diarrhoea (AWD) outbreaks. In 2016-2017, Sudan witnessed an unprecedented resurgence of AWD outbreak, reaching 36,460 cases and 818 deaths encompassing all states. The total cases exceeded by 60% the “worst case” scenario envisaged in the National AWD Preparedness and Response Plan, necessitating its reformulation. The rapidity and severity of the outbreak required the relevant Ministries to collaborate in an extraordinary manner with key support from UNICEF and WHO. Coordination forums led at the highest-level including the Vice President, Ministers and Governors ensured rapid assessment and response to the outbreak. The initial ad-hoc response eventually metamorphosed into a systematic, coordinated and integrated Health and WASH planning and response. Timely WASH interventions on a massive scale aided by innovative ladder approach of moving from emergency temporary to long-term durable solutions effectively contributed to containing AWD.