ZIMBABWE - HARARE - The MDC Vice-President Thokozani Khupe has called for the immediate intervention of the international community to assist Zimbabwe as the cholera outbreak in the country has reached unprecedented levels.

 

Khupe was speaking at the Beatrice Infectious Diseases Hospital in Harare after she had seen disturbing scenes of patients who have been affected by the outbreak at the hospital and at Budiriro Polyclinic.

 

 

The Vice President was accompanied by the Hon. Nelson Chamisa, the MDC national spokesperson, Deputy national treasurer Hon Elton Mangoma, Senator Henry Madzorera, MDC secretary for health and several MDC MPs and Senators.

 

 

 

 

At Budiriro Polyclinic, Khupe broke down after she saw hundreds of patients battling for their lives at the clinic as the centre is failing to cope with the high numbers of patients being admitted.

"My appeal to the international community as a matter of urgency is for food and medicine as the country is failing to cope with the humanitarian crisis that has hit Zimbabwe," she said.

Khupe said the Zanu PF regime should stop politicking about the crisis as the people of Zimbabwe had been seriously affected by the cholera outbreak.

"People should stop politicking about this situation as it has reached unprecedented levels. Zanu PF should get out of its denial mode and admit that they have no capacity so that those that can help can come in as a matter of urgency," she said.

Khupe's visit came a time when the whole of Harare had no water supplies due to mismanagement by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa).

However, it was a touching occasion when she had to console some people at the clinic who had just heard the news that their relatives had passed away at the clinic.

The situation at the clinic and Beatrice Infectious Hospital has been further compounded by the lack of doctors and nurses who have gone on strike due to poor salaries.

The health institutions are also failing to cope with the high numbers coming at the centres due to lack of drugs and protective clothing.

Some of the patients admitted at the centres are health workers who contracted cholera due to lack of protective clothing.

Over 800 people are reported to have succumbed to the cholera outbreak. Madzorera said the cases were being under reported as there were more cases of admissions and deaths across the country.

The vice-president said the purpose of the visit was to assess the situation that is gripping the nation.

She said the outbreak was now a regional crisis problem as some Zimbabweans were travelling to South Africa, Botswana and other neighbouring countries to seek medication as the facilities in Zimbabwe could not cope with the situation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

JOKE OF THE DAY - Q: So how was the English exam?

 

Chinoz-: It was not bad. There were only 4 questions. The last one was the one that gave me a headache

 

Q: What was the question about?

 

Chinoz: "What is the past tense of think?" I thought and I thought and I thought then finally I wrote "THUNK!" ”

 

 

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