Zimbabwe declares cholera 'an emergency'
Friday, 5 December 2008
Authorities in Zimbabwe have declared a cholera outbreak that has killed more than 550 people to be a national emergency, state media reports, reports BBC .
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.