World News Story

08 January 2009 22:55 BST

National emergency declared in Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe's government has finally buckled under mounting pressure and declared a deadly cholera outbreak a national emergency.

Health minister David Parirenyatwa said Robert Mugabe's government had all but failed to contain the cholera outbreak due to the total collapse of the health delivery sector and lack of financial resources.

He appealed for emergency international assistance following the deaths of over 570 Zimbabweans from the disease.

Last month the government claimed that the situation was under control, rejecting calls to declare cholera a national disaster.

It had spread to nine of the country's ten provinces and spilled over to neighbouring countries like South Africa and Botswana.

"The emergency appeal will help us reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with the current socio-economic environment by December 2009," state media today quoted Dr Parirenyatwa saying.

"We are hoping that within the next 12 months we would have achieved the package."

He also appealed for food to feed patients.

Dr Parirenyatwa said among the items urgently required by hospitals are medicines, laboratory reagents, surgical sundries, renal and laundry equipment, X-ray films and boilers.

The health minister also appealed for international help to resuscitate the collapsed health sector and to pay health workers who continue to quit their jobs in protest over poor salaries.

"Our central hospitals are literally not functioning. Our staff is demotivated and we need your support to ensure that they start coming to work and our health system is revived," Dr Parirenyatwa added.

"So far, $7 million has been made available with effect from January 1st 2009 and there is still a gap of $11 million which we are requesting now."

The cholera outbreak is blamed on a lack of clean water caused by the total collapse of water treatment plants and sewerage systems.