The disease, which is spread through contaminated water, kills about 100,000 people every year.

It is the first time governments, the World Health Organization, aid agencies and donors have made such a pledge.

It comes as Yemen continues to fight one of the worst cholera outbreaks on record.

Cholera has been spreading in the war-torn country due to deteriorating hygiene and sanitation conditions and disruptions to the water supply.

More than 770,000 people have been infected with the disease, which is easily treatable with the right medical equipment, and 2,000 have died. Many of the victims are children.

These huge outbreaks tend to grab the headlines, but there are also frequent outbreaks in so-called cholera “hotspots”.

Disease of the poor

Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal infection caused by ingestion of food or water contaminated with the bacterium Vibrio cholera.

It can spread quickly and widely in cramped, dirty conditions.

The infection is cheap to treat with rehydration salts, and easy to avoid altogether if people have access to clean water and decent toilet facilities.

But about two billion people globally lack access to clean water and are potentially at risk of cholera, according to the World Health Organization.

The UN health agency says weak health systems, and outbreaks not being detected early enough also contribute to the rapid spread of outbreaks.

Dr Dominique Legros, who heads up the WHO’s cholera programme, told the BBC: “We can’t keep seeing these huge outbreaks every year.

“We have the tools at hand to prevent them, so let’s use them.

“If you provide water and sanitation, it’s enough to stop the transmission of cholera.

“We’ve seen that today in countries like Senegal, where we have been able to stop transmission.”

Cholera is a disease of the poor, and building basic infrastructure for communities costs money.

However, there is no expectation of any major pledges of cash at Tuesday’s meeting.

‘Badge of shame’

The charity Wateraid estimates it would cost $40 (£30) per person to provide water, sanitation and hygiene.

Its chief executive, Tim Wainwright, says that is “surprisingly affordable”.

“Looking around the world, the map of cholera outbreaks is essentially the same as a map of poverty and marginalisation.

“The fact that this preventable disease still sickens 2.9 million people every year and kills 95,000 people is a global badge of shame.”

The oral cholera vaccine is another important part of the fight against this enduring disease.

It only offers protection for up to 3 years. But in situations where outbreaks are highly likely, it can save thousands of lives.

Some 900,000 doses of the vaccine are currently being sent to refugee camps in Bangladesh where almost half a million Rohingya Muslim refugees are gathering in squalid conditions after fleeing violence in neighbouring Myanmar, also known as Burma.

“The vaccine alone doesn’t solve the problem, the water and sanitation is a more long-term solution,” said Dr Seth Berkley, chief executive of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations.

“In the interim, we need to work to ensure we are doing both.”

Northern Europe and the US managed to eliminate cholera 150 years ago.

Tuesday’s pledge aims to, finally, achieve that goal for some of the world’s poorest people.

Estimated global annual cholera cases:

Source: Johns Hopkins University

• India: 675,188 cases, 20,266 deaths
• Ethiopia: 275.221 cases, 10,458 deaths
• Nigeria: 220,397 cases, 8,375 deaths
• Haiti: 210,589 cases, 2,584 deaths

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Source: BBC

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The Foundation also seeks to provide a platform for the young emerging Ghanaian and African broadcast journalists, to help influence and shape policies within their countries with a view to enhancing the interests of their peoples.

At the well-attended launching of the foundation at the UN Church Centre on Friday were members of the diplomatic corps, media men, friends of Komla Dumor and representatives of some Ghanaian Associations in the United States of America.

Ambassador Ken Kanda, Ghana’s Permanent Representative to the UN, described the late Dumor, former presenter for BBC World News and its Focus on Africa programme, who died on January 18, this year, as someone who was imbibed with passion and the determination to excel in all he did.

“The celebration of his life should send signals to young Africans and black people that passion, commitment and dedication bring desired achievements,” he said of Dumor, one of Ghana’s best-known journalists, who joined the BBC as a radio broadcaster in 2006 after a decade of journalism in Ghana.

Ambassador Kanda said Dumor who became the face of Africa on BBC, did well to the extent that he became “the respectability that Africa has been searching for,” adding that “Komla showed that the Black Man has also arrived and has the capacity for greater achievements.”

Ambassador Kanda, current chair of the ECOWAS group at the UN, charged Africans to prove in whatever field they find themselves, that “Black people are capable of achieving greater things by always doing our best as exemplified by Komla.”

Prof. Ernest Dumor, father of the late Dumor, described his son’s death as a blessing, having in his lifespan helped to re-write the history of the African.

In his words, “Komla, re-crafted the identity issue of Africa as the new frontier.”

He explained that the Foundation was established to support and push the Africa agenda forward, and to foster interactive social discussions, and promote education for mainly disadvantaged schools in rural areas.

“We need to get a database, a register to unlock the growth potential of Africa,” Prof. Dumor stated, emphasizing that this was what Komla stood for.

Gringo Wotshela, a BBC correspondent in Washington, who was at the event, lauded Komla’s achievements as a determined broadcaster who wanted the best for Africa. He was able to touch the lives of a lot of people through his work, he was way too advanced,” Gringo said of his late professional colleague.

Dr. Koshie Dumor, a medical officer, said his late senior brother believed that the borders in Africa were imaginary, and always wanted a vibrant and energetic African youth.

To cap the event, there was a video clip on one of Komla’s interviews during which he hammered the point that there were a lot of good things about Africa, but there should be a balance in the way it was reported.

Komla Dumor died at his home in London at the age of 41.

On hearing of Komla’s death, Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama said on Twitter that his country had lost one of its finest ambassadors.

Source: GNA

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