Cholera control and prevention: Role of evidence-based advocacy and communications.

Evidence-based communications and policy outreach are critical elements in building awareness about a disease, build public momentum and decision making and resource mobilization. In India, communications and advocacy played an important role in managing diseases like HIV/AIDS, pneumonia, tuberculosis, etc. and addressing barriers to adoption of new health interventions. These learnings from the past, can help India manage cholera more effectively through a strong advocacy and communications strategy involving multiple stakeholders and partners, with a focus on engaging decision makers. The article discusses strategic communications and advocacy programs for cholera that can be instrumental in paving the way for cholera vaccine use to combat this public health problem and its social and economic impact.