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(NEWZIMBABWE) Zimbabwe says cholera epidemic 'is gone'

Zimbabwe says cholera epidemic 'is gone'
by Lebo Nkatazo
30/07/2009 00:00:00

THERE are no more cholera cases in Zimbabwe, Health Minister Henry Madzorera said Tuesday. The minister also reiterated that there is no reported case of swine flu in the country.

Madzorera said the last cholera case was reported in June following months of fighting an epidemic that ravaged the country since the first case was detected in August last year.

“The cholera epidemic is finished now, it is gone … We are declaring that cholera has now ended,” Madzorera said, adding that the new power sharing government had put in place systems capable of containing a future outbreak, even in the coming rainy season.

“Most of our clinics are functioning. By the time of the rains, we will be much more prepared. We do not expect to be 100 percent okay but we expect the water situation to have improved by then.”

Madzorera, a medical doctor who had a practice in Kwekwe before becoming minister in February, said at the end of June, 98,500 cases had been reported while 4,287 deaths were confirmed.

The outbreak erupted in August as post-election violence was sweeping the country, while public services including hospitals and clinics shut down.

The diarrhoeal disease thrives in places without proper sanitary facilities. Cholera is deadly but easily preventable with clean water and proper sanitation.

The outbreak began in Chitungwiza, a dormitory town outside the Zimbabwean capital whose sewer system has been overburdened by a booming population and experiences perennial water shortages.

Cholera spread to 55 of the country's 62 districts.
The then Zanu PF government declared cholera a national emergency in December and appealed for international assistance to fight the disease when deaths from the epidemic were nearing 600.

At the time, the former Heath Minister David Parirenyatwa painted a desperate picture: “Our central hospitals are literally not functioning. Our staff is de-motivated and we need your support to ensure that they start coming to work and our health system is revived.”

Many countries and international organisations responded to the appeal and provided water treatment chemicals and drugs while the United Nations Children’s Fund chipped in with allowances for medical staff.

Since Zimbabwe's unity government formed in February, hospitals have re-opened as doctors and nurses resumed work, though conditions remain grim.

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said the cholera epidemic was the worst to hit Africa in 15 years and warned the disease had now entrenched itself as an endemic illness in Zimbabwe.

"Our concern is that the fundamental issues -- access to sanitation and access to clean water -- haven't been meaningfully addressed," said IFRC spokesman Matthew Cochrane.

"Cholera is now endemic in Zimbabwe, like it is in most countries in this region."

"Effort has to now be made that communities have access to basic amenities like clean water and sanitation."

On swine flu, Madzorera said an Asian man who visited the country from London tested negative and has since left the country.

He said a local athlete who had tested positive for the diseases in South Africa where he had gone for a tournament was treated and even though he was still in the neighboring country, his return to Zimbabwe posed no danger.

“We have not confirmed any swine flu cases in Zimbabwe, but our systems have been prompted to be able to respond in any likely case,” Madzorera added.

Labels: CHOLERA, COLOUR REVOLUTIONS

posted by MrK @ 2:46 PM