Zimbabwe 'set for cholera jump'

[T_i_B]

Source: BBC

The UN Children's Fund in Zimbabwe says it is preparing to deal with a possible 60,000 cholera cases in coming weeks, four times current official estimates.

The Unicef chief in Harare, Roeland Monasch, said such a jump could bring the number of deaths to around 2,700.

Official figures say nearly 600 have already died from the disease but aid agencies fear the toll could be higher.

Mr Monasch told the BBC that they were doing all they could to bring mortality rates down. But he warned that if as many as 60,000 people became infected in the next few weeks, then the cholera epidemic could kill another 2,700.

He says the actual number of people who have already died is probably far higher than official figures as many clinics and hospitals are closed and people in rural areas frequently just bury their dead. Children in Zimbabwe are on the brink, and everyone's focus must now be on their survival



Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7769642.stm

[pinto]

1. "Children in Zimbabwe are on the brink, and everyone's focus must now be on their survival,"

said Mr Monasch. (Unicef)

[jwirr]

2. This will not stop unless the water system is improved. Dirty water

is the source. This is a water crisis.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

3. Zimbabwe had an excellent water system by african standards

Unfortunately after Mugabe's criminal gangs ran out of farms to "liberate" they began demolishing public infrastructure to sell for scrap. Pumps in rural areas have been stolen in the tens of thousands.

[Critters2]

5. Not just a rural problem anymore. Harare is having trouble getting chemicals

to purify water, and shut down its system for a couple of days. Back up, now, apparently. But probably not for long. Mugabe has to go!! http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/05/world/africa/05zimbabwe.html?ref=health

[bemildred]

4. This is why we need national tax-paid public health care.

There is way the heck more at stake than some ignorant weasels "profit". Public health care systems were not set up in the first place out of some guys "enterprise", they were set up to try to keep the death toll down. Throughout history, more soldiers died of disease than enemy action, and we are going back there if we don't get our shit together real soon now ...

[Critters2]

6. There is neither any relationship nor any comaprison between our health care problems

and the crisis in Zimbabwe. For reasons ranging from geography and climate to government corruption, Zimbabwe's situation is far more dire than ours would be, even in a deep depression. This is the fault of one of the worst governments in the world. When I was in Zimbabwe in 94, we were warned about the risk of cholera, but there was plenty of safe, clean water available. Not to mention functioning hospitals and clinics. That was before Mugabe started "land reforms" and other cruelties.

[bemildred]

7. You seem confused. I'm not defending Mugabe. He's an asshole.

I'm suggesting that public health care is a serious issue, lives are at stake. Private profit should not be allowed to interfere.

[Critters2]

9. I just think that comparing our problems to Zimbabwe's is to minimize the suffering of the Zim

people.

[bemildred]

10. But I'm not comparing anything to anything else.

I'm pointing out that public health systems were set up in the first place to prevent and minimize the effects of this sort of epidemic. What is it that you don't approve of?

[Taverner]

8. Fuck Mugabe

He's 100% responsible.