I was reading an article on scienceblogs.com on what the author calls ‘mass murder in Zimbabwe’. The article is about the Cholera, a disease that can be prevented and is also easily treatable. But Cholera has so far killed over 400 people in Zimbabwe and the disease continues to spread to other parts of the country. What have the responsible authorities, that is the government and the councils, especially Harare City Council done to prevent the spread of cholera and also to avoid more deaths from cholera???
Here is what the author says about Cholera in Zimbabwe:
Cholera is a vicious disease. It can take a healthy person and kill him or her in a day by rapidly dehydrating them from a massive, watery diarrhea. The resulting electrolyte imbalance can lead to vascular collapse or cardiac arrest. Cholera is usually spread by fecally contaminated drinking water, and hence is completely preventable. It is also easily treatable by keeping the patient hydrated with the oral rehydration therapy, basically minimally fortified water. Yet this preventable and treatable disease is now epidemic in the country of Zimbabwe. Government sources admit to over 400 deaths but the true number is probably nearer 1000, while the number of cases is already likely around 10,000 and climbing. In Zimbabwe cholera is also caused by dictator Robert Mugabe’s vicious misrule, incompetence and corruption. He has killed these cholera victims by his lust for power just as surely as he if he had his Army and police shoot them down. Now the rainy season is upon Zimbabwe and things will likely get even worse:
The author also points out that this cholera epidemic
“This is not a technical problem. It is easily solved with latrines, intact water and sewer pipes, disinfected drinking water. The Harare City Council’s response is to offer free graves for cholera victims.”
Yet they are doing nothing to improve the water situation in Harare. They are doing nothing about the raw sewage in the streets in Harare.
No wonder the author says Zimbabwe is a killing field, a horror show and “Robert Mugabe is the horror who runs the show”.
Through their greedy and corruption, the Mugabe regime has destroyed the once vibrant economy of Zimbabwe. Nobody looks after the infrastructure, a few days ago they stopped pumping water in Harare because they don’t have water purifying chemicals. Refuse is not collect, so residents dump rubbish everywhere. There is raw sewage in the streets, with the current rains this is now being washed into the shallow unprotected wells where Harare residents get water….it’s so sad!
So, if cholera can be prevented and is also easily treatable why has it been allowed to kill over 400 people in Zimbabwe??? The Minister of Health, Dr David Parirenyatwa says…’people should not shake hands’….surely we expect more and better than that.
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