Published 10 December 2008, doi:10.1136/bmj.a2942
Cite this as: BMJ 2008;337:a2942

News

Zimbabwe appeals for medical aid as it declares state of emergency over cholera epidemic

Ryan Truscott

1 Harare

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Zimbabwe has finally declared a national emergency, because of the cholera epidemic that is sweeping the country and the collapse of state hospitals, and has appealed for international help.

David Parirenyatwa, the health minister, asked for drugs, laboratory reagents, renal and laundry equipment, x ray film, boilers, food for patients, and $11m (£7m; {euro}9m) to persuade striking doctors and nurses to resume their work.

"Our central hospitals are literally not functioning," he said. "The emergency appeal will help us reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with the current socioeconomic environment by December 2009."

Cholera has killed at least 575 people in Zimbabwe since September, according to latest figures from the World Health Organization. About 12 700 people have been infected.

The disease has spread to neighbouring countries, with 455 cases reported in South Africa and two in Botswana. Parts of the Limpopo river between Zimbabwe and South Africa have tested . . . [Full text of this article]


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