Government declares emergency in Zimbabwe

Thursday, 04 December 2008

Haaba: Chukwuemeka Nwosu

Children go to fetch water at a plant in the Zimbabwean capital, Harare, on December 1, 2008. The entire capital was without water for two days exposing residents to disease. At least 400 people have died of cholera across the country since the first outbreak nearly two months ago. The cholera epidemic has compounded the daily misery faced by ordinary Zimbabweans, who struggle to survive with the world's highest inflation, last estimated at 231 million percent, while nearly half the population needs emergency food aid. AFP PHOTO/Desmond Kwande

With cholera epidemic ravaging the country, the Zimbabwean government has declared a 12-month emergency period to deal with the epidemic.

With the recent epidemic, more than 563 people have died with the outgoing minister for health, Dr David Parirenyatwa pleading with key donors agencies for assistance to check the life-threatening disease.

Parirenyatwa also acknowledged that government had failed to run hospitals and appealed for US$1,5 million monthly to cater for incentives for health care workers.

“So far, US$7 million has been made available with effect from January 1, 2009 and there is still a gap of US$11 million which we are requesting now. Our central hospitals are literally not functioning. Our staff is demotivated and we need your support to ensure that they start coming to work and our health system is revived.”

This year's occurrence is the worst in the history of the country with some provinces recording about 5o per cent deaths and the epidemic spreading southwards into South Africa.

The Limpopo River, which delineates the border between Zimbabwe and South Africa before flowing through Mozambique into the Indian Ocean, has tested positive for cholera, according to local media reports.

Several cases have been reported in South Africa with many travellers to the northern parts of South Africa cancelling their trips due to the tragic outbreak of cholera in Zimbabwe, because of their close proximity.

The South African Government said tourists shouldn't be discouraged from travelling to affected areas as it is easy to avoid infection.

Cholera is an infectious, water-borne variety of gastroenteritis caused by a strain of bacteria called Vibrio cholerae. It typically occurs in overpopulated and underdeveloped parts of Asia, Latin America and Africa where sanitation is poor and access to clean food and potable water limited.

Zimbabwe is also battling with hype-inflation and HIV/AIDs.