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Red alert as cholera crisis spreads to Zimbabwe's neighbours
Kiran Randhawa09.12.08
ZIMBABWE'S neighbouring countries were today on red alert as the cholera epidemic continued its devastating rampage across their borders.
The death toll has risen to 589 and hundreds of Zimbabweans are leaving the country in a desperate attempt to escape the disease.
As a result, the outbreak has spread to bordering countries. Eight people have died in South Africa alone. In Zambia, one has died in the town of Chirundu, which borders Zimbabwe.
Zambia's authorities have imposed health controls at all three of its shared borders with Zimbabwe, screening anyone entering or leaving Zambia.
Medical teams have been sent to Mozambique's border areas and local health authorities are reportedly on "maximum alert" against a possible cholera spread. In the country's Changara district 169 cholera cases have been reported and most of the victims are said to be Zimbabweans.
Botswana too is said to be on high alert as one Zimbabwean is being treated for the disease.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs revealed the number of cholera cases in Zimbabwe stood at 13,960. A nurse said the crisis was now "beyond control".
Although official figures for the death toll stand at 589, it is believed the true figure is much higher.
One patient, at a hospital in Harare, said: "For every 10 patients who die, they report four." The woman, who did not want to be identified, said the hospital was filthy, with no clean water and patients lying next to buckets that were being used as lavatories.
The epidemic has been caused by the collapse of basic infrastructure of water and sanitation in Zimbabwe, and exacerbated by the crisis in the country's health service. The two main hospitals in Harare have closed because of a shortage of drugs and staff.
Many doctors and nurses have abandoned their posts because their monthly salaries do not cover the cost of their bus fares to work. One nurse said there was a critical shortage of basic medical supplies in the few hospitals that are still operating and overflowing with cholera patients. "The staff cannot cope, people are dying even before they are being attended to," he said.
Most of the population, weak from hunger, are easy prey for what should be a preventable and treatable disease.
Basic foodstuffs are running out, prices of goods are doubling every 24 hours, and the 100million Zimbabwean dollar-a-week limit for bank withdrawals buys only three loaves of bread in the once relatively prosperous country.
The spreading cholera, food shortages and economic collapse country have prompted new demands from Western countries for president Robert Mugabe's resignation. Mr Mugabe blames Western sanctions for Zimbabwe's hardship.
Reader views (5)
Western countries and Tsvangirai are partly to blame for the problems in Zimbabwe. The truth is that sanctions imposed by Britain and her allies have crippled the country and they are the people calling for his removal to persue their own agendas. Western governments/countries are the most evil people in the world and tend to shed crocodiles when people die. Remove sanctions and judge Mugabe and his government after that.
- Chakudimba, London, United Kingdom
Roz, you are so right: I have only been there for two short trips in happier times and it is tragic to think of the tour guides etc I met now most probably being destitute. In the days of apartheid, the ANC who now run South Africa lectured us on how anyone who stood by silent in the face of such abuse of human rights was as guilty as the perpetrators. In the face of the much worse tragedy befalling Zimbabwe they have kept silent, and their silence condemns them.
- Tonyb, Melbourne, Australia
Zims are SUCH lovely people: they are well educated, hard-working, courteous, cheerful . . . they deserve so much better than being wiped out by the meglamaniacal Shona minority. Zimbabwe was the best-placed nation to take Africa forward: look at it now.
- Roz, Chamonix, France
They all supported Mugabe and kept him in power. Especially South Africa, now they can clean up his mess.
No more of my money in Aid to Africa please.
- Frank, Home Counties, England
This is what African Govs get in their do nothing approach, serves them right (apart from Kenya...).
I feel very sorry for the victims. Robert Mugabe must go ...
- Nabil H, London, UK
