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Now Zimbabwe is in the grip of cholera outbreak
Ed Harris26 Nov 2008
A CHOLERA epidemic could cripple Zimbabwe even further after the collapse of the country's health system, the UN warned today.
It said that more than 50 deaths from cholera were reported in the country yesterday alone, bringing the total to 366 since August with most in the past two weeks. The disease has spread to half the country, with more than 8,887 cases recorded in the outbreak.
Zimbabwe's Doctors for Human Rights said that hundreds more were dying of the disease at home, untreated after hospitals in the country shut because they could not pay staff, and others go without medication.
Dr Douglas Gwadziro said: "One can safely say the numbers are in the region of 500 to 600 of people that have succumbed to cholera."
The government, in limbo as president Robert Mugabe and opposition politicians try to settle disputed elections, is accused of lowering casualty figures and denying the crisis. Cholera is spread by contaminated water and the outbreak will worsen as the rainy season begins.
Reader views (6)
How long before a Zimbabwe national enters UK legally or illegally and brings cholera here. It's just a matter of time.
- Frank, England., 26/11/2008 23:02
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The people of Zimbabwe must now be saved from Mugabe as the German people were from Hitler. The African nations have a clear duty to do it.
- Peter Haldane, London, 26/11/2008 16:50
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Apart from Mugabe & Co. of course, the blame falls squarely on the South African government. In days of apartheid the ANC's message to the rest of the world was clear: "this is not just an internal matter; if you sit on your hands and do nothing while black people are oppressed and suffer, then you have blood on your hands". They stand condemned by their own inaction and hypocrisy.
- Tonyb, Melbourne, Australia, 26/11/2008 13:19
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The really sad fact is that all the present problems in that country stem from the period of when it was Rhodesia,that period of colonialism gave Mugabe and the likes a platform,and at that time he was right.But that doesn't give him and his cronies a permanent lease on the country.South Africa should have put more pressure on him to go and accept the mdc as the legitimate winners of the election.How much longer will the world stand by and do nothing while the innocent people suffer and die? That's the real evil,and you can bet your life if there were oil in that country he would have been removed years ago,aka saddam who was a saint in comparison.
- Kev, London, 26/11/2008 11:43
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The UK should admit, that this country is no longer our responsibility.
Let someone else clean up the mess, unless anyone hasn't noticed The UK has a lot of it's own problms to sort out.
- P I Staker, London, 26/11/2008 11:16
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Zimbabwe has to hit rock bottom before any further assistance is given. Aide does not get to the people who need it so sending money to the charities who say they are helping only serves to ease our Western conscious. Once ZANU PF and Mugabi's evil cronies are gone then we should help to rebuild the country. I grew up in Rhodesia, it is unimaginable that this is the same country that was once the envy of Africa.
- Jane Bewick, London, 26/11/2008 10:25
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