UNICEF Cholera Toolkit

This Cholera Toolkit was produced to provide United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) staff and partners with practical resources to support the implementation of integrated approaches to cholera prevention, preparedness, and response. "It addresses water, hygiene and sanitation, health, and communication for development (C4D), as well as specific content linked to education, nutrition, child protection, and other relevant sectors."
The toolkit was developed based on a review of existing guidance and in global consultation with specialists in cholera-related fields. According to UNICEF, it "puts proven guidance, tools and best practices relating to cholera together in one place accessible to everyone." The toolkit comprises three main components: the main document, annexes, and additional resources, which are listed for each of the toolkit chapters. It also offers editable versions of many tools that can be used in the field.
One chapter, for example, emphasises training communication planners on communication, behaviour change, and social mobilisation, with specific reference to mobilising for community action. It identifies methodologies for behaviour change communication and motivational messaging and functions as a precursor to a chapter emphasising community-based strategies, including roles and responsibilities of each actor in the community. For example: "Community-based health workers, including trained community health workers (CHWs), hygiene promoters, volunteers, etc., play a major role in delivering services to the community. CHWs need to be identified, trained and equipped to manage their role as a key actor in cholera preparedness and response plans. They also require close supervision and support, including oversight of supplies, in order to provide adequate and continuous service to their communities." Specifically, the guide consists of the following chapters:

• Chapter 1: Introduction - This section provides background information on the toolkit and includes information on the roles and responsibilities of UNICEF.
• Chapter 2: Cholera - The Basics - This chapter provides background and contextual information for understanding the types and characteristics of cholera bacteria, the mechanism for infection, means of transmission and risk factors, and gender and age considerations for infection.
• Chapter 3: Understanding the Situation and Monitoring - This chapter covers information required to understand and monitor cholera situations and help with making informed decisions for prevention, preparedness, and response. This includes how to determine an outbreak, its magnitude and scale for response, and monitoring and reporting when there is no outbreak.
• Chapter 4: Cholera Prevention - This chapter covers individual and community behaviours and practices that can help prevent cholera infection and transmission.
• Chapter 5: Coordination, Responsibilities, and Information Management - This chapter covers the rationale and structures for cholera outbreak prevention, preparedness, and response, including the role of task forces and coordination committees. It also considers the meetings, sources of information, and the importance of information management.
• Chapter 6: Cholera Preparedness - This chapter covers "the process of ensuring readiness for a cholera outbreak in advance, so that the response will be more effective; staff know what they should do, the required supplies are available and the systems for co-ordination, communication, monitoring and support are agreed in advance."
• Chapter 7: Communicating for Cholera Preparedness and Response - This chapter highlights the two main areas in relation to cholera outbreaks: 1) communication for development (C4D), which focuses on local-level advocacy and behaviour and social change issues, and 2) media relations, advocacy, and institutional communication.
• Chapter 8: Case Management and Infection Control - This section covers service delivery for case management in treatment facilities, including infection control (water, sanitation, and hygiene - WASH).
• Chapter 9: Community Focused Interventions - This chapter focuses on community case management (CCM) and community-based strategies.
• Chapter 10: UNICEF Procedures for Emergency Preparedness and Response - This chapter presents UNICEF-specific procedures for emergency preparedness and response to complement and operationalise the activities and interventions proposed in the previous chapters of this toolkit.