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| Zimbabwe cholera 'an emergency' | Zimbabwe cholera 'an emergency' |
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| Authorities in Zimbabwe have declared a cholera outbreak that has killed more than 550 people to be a national emergency, state media reports. | Authorities in Zimbabwe have declared a cholera outbreak that has killed more than 550 people to be a national emergency, state media reports. |
| Health Minister David Parirenyatwa said hospitals were in urgent need of medicine, food and equipment and were suffering a critical staff shortage. | Health Minister David Parirenyatwa said hospitals were in urgent need of medicine, food and equipment and were suffering a critical staff shortage. |
| Zimbabwe has also asked for urgent international help to deal with the cholera outbreak. | Zimbabwe has also asked for urgent international help to deal with the cholera outbreak. |
| Authorities had previously said the cholera outbreak was under control. | Authorities had previously said the cholera outbreak was under control. |
| The BBC's Peter Biles reports from neighbouring South Africa that as recently as last week, Zimbabwean officials had said there was no need to view cholera as an emergency. | |
| See detailed map of affected areas | |
| The UN says at least 565 people have died from the cholera outbreak, which began in August, though correspondents say the real death toll could be much higher. Our central hospitals are literally not functioning Health Minister David Parirenyatwa Harare diary: 'Too much to take''Water crisis hinders cholera fight' | The UN says at least 565 people have died from the cholera outbreak, which began in August, though correspondents say the real death toll could be much higher. Our central hospitals are literally not functioning Health Minister David Parirenyatwa Harare diary: 'Too much to take''Water crisis hinders cholera fight' |
| At least 12,545 cases of cholera have been recorded over the same period. | At least 12,545 cases of cholera have been recorded over the same period. |
| The outbreak comes as Zimbabwe is crippled by economic meltdown and political stalemate. | |
| President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change have been rowing over a power-sharing deal following disputed polls this year. | |
| Zimbabwe's prime minister-designate and opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai is expected to meet Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga in Nairobi on Thursday. | |
| Mr Tsvangirai has been on a whirlwind tour of several African countries for talks on the Zimbabwe crisis. | |
| The state-run Herald newspaper on Thursday cited Zimbabwe's health minister as saying hospitals lacked surgical and renal equipment, X-ray films and boilers. | |
| The shortage of resources risked derailing Zimbabwe's anti-retroviral programme to treat HIV-positive patients, Mr Parirenyatwa warned. | |
| "Our central hospitals are literally not functioning," he was quoted as telling health sector groups at a meeting in the capital, Harare. | "Our central hospitals are literally not functioning," he was quoted as telling health sector groups at a meeting in the capital, Harare. |
| Water shortage | |
| Most of Zimbabwe's capital has been without water since Sunday. State media said the water was cut because of a lack of purification tablets. | Most of Zimbabwe's capital has been without water since Sunday. State media said the water was cut because of a lack of purification tablets. |
| The health minister said there had been a drop in cholera cases in all provinces except Harare. | The health minister said there had been a drop in cholera cases in all provinces except Harare. |
| Medical workers tried to protest over the cholera outbreak | Medical workers tried to protest over the cholera outbreak |
| The World Health Organisation (WHO) has said it is very keen to help after Mr Parirenyatwa appealed for medical supplies and funds to pay hospital staff. | |
| On Wednesday, riot police in the Zimbabwean capital, Harare, broke up a protest march by doctors and nurses angered at the worsening outbreak. | |
| The authorities also prevented trade union members staging a protest over the country's banking meltdown. | The authorities also prevented trade union members staging a protest over the country's banking meltdown. |
| The government has blamed its crisis on Western sanctions it says are aimed at trying to bring down Mr Mugabe. | The government has blamed its crisis on Western sanctions it says are aimed at trying to bring down Mr Mugabe. |
| But the sanctions imposed after allegations of electoral fraud and political violence are aimed at the president and his close associates and consist of travel bans and a freeze on their foreign assets. | But the sanctions imposed after allegations of electoral fraud and political violence are aimed at the president and his close associates and consist of travel bans and a freeze on their foreign assets. |
| Cases of cholera have been reported either side of Zimbabwe's borders with South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique. | Cases of cholera have been reported either side of Zimbabwe's borders with South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique. |
| Return to top | Return to top |
| Are you in Zimbabwe? Have you been affected by the disease? Send your comment using the form below: | Are you in Zimbabwe? Have you been affected by the disease? Send your comment using the form below: |