Cholera

Cholera

HARARE - With a cholera death toll in Zimbabwe's capital rising to 9, the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) has provided US$210,000 to the Ministry of Health for urgent measures to control the spread of the epidemic, sparked by drinking tap water left untreated by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa).

Since December, 500 people have been affected by the waterborne disease in the populous suburbs of Mabvuku and Tafara, which is spread by poor sanitation.

The death toll for the epidemic, which is centred in the two ghettos home to more than 50,000 people, rose from three to nine in one week after six people died last weekend.

A statement from UNICEF said the funds would be used to bring in epidemiologists within the Ministry of Health and Child Welfare to strengthen cholera control activities, including awareness programmes. 

UNICEF would also provide five water bowsers and environmental disinfectants to improve access to safe water. 

These efforts will go a long way towards controlling the epidemic and ensuring that the epidemic does not spread to neighbouring areas, said the UNICEF representative in Zimbabwe.

The epidemic comes as overstretched aid organisations struggle with the impact of food shortages affecting up to 4,1 million people in Zimbabwe. Health officials have warned that poor nutrition complicates conditions like cholera and HIV/AIDS, making recovery more difficult.

UNICEF has appealed for US $7.8 million in emergency funding for health, nutrition, water and sanitation, HIV/AIDS and education programmes for the worst-affected children in Zim

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