20100401
ALL AFRICA

A cholera epidemic has plagued Zimbabwe for some time, with ongoing outbreaks occurring there sporadically since 2003. The developing country has suffered long-term political instability, intense food shortages, and according to the World Health Organization (WHO), a male average life expectancy of 37 years. The most recent WHO figures from 2009 estimate that there are 79,613 suspected cases of cholera in the country. The organization's representatives have described the outbreak as "out of control."

Cholera is a water-borne disease and is easily transmitted from one person to another through poor hygiene or contaminated water. The disease is further exasperated by the poor sanitation and weak health-care system in the region. Preventing deaths from the disease is easily done through antibiotics and proper hydration.

However, what is most troubling for the country is the downplaying of the extent of the cholera epidemic in the past, both by President Mugabe's government and by the United Nations. In an interview with The Independent newspaper on 26 November 2008, a senior official in the Zimbabwe Health Ministry claimed under anonymity that he had been prevented from accurately reporting statistics on the number of cholera deaths around Zimbabwe. Additionally in 2008, a number of months after the epidemic began, the UN appealed for aid for a mere 2,000 cases of cholera but just two months later, the death toll had already reached that number.

The reason for the failure on the part of the UN has been debated. Former UN official Georges Tadonki has been particularity vocal in his condemnation of the UN's response to the epidemic over the last few years. Tadonki headed the UN's humanitarian office in Zimbabwe around the time that the initial outbreak turned into an epidemic. Tadonki spoke to MediaGlobal about the issue. He said that he believes that this is a very clear example of the UN failing to challenge a dictator in order to protect millions of vulnerable people.

Tadonki went on to say that: "An early visible intervention of the UN in Zimbabwe in 2008 would have certainly reduced the scale of that disaster. [The] UN [was] misled not to listen to early warnings sent by their own OCHA Head of Office, leading to the UN late response to cholera. ... and leading to several thousand deaths...and [the] mass movement of millions of people fleeing to safer land in safe-houses in Zimbabwe or [spreading disease] in neighboring countries, or facing deadly xenophobia, like in South Africa."

Lexi Aisbitt, from the Zimbabwe Benefit Foundation, an organization that has been working since 2004 to empower the people of Zimbabwe through aid, education, and housing, spoke toMediaGlobal on the current situation in Zimbabwe: "Having recently returned from Zimbabwe, it is evident that a potential further cholera outbreak remains a significant worry. The health and sanitation infrastructure across the country has completely collapsed and an absence of clean water continues for many, meaning that disease is rife."

Regarding the UN's mishandling of the epidemic, Aisbitt stated that the UN's efforts: "Have been significant, but there is a great deal more to be done. Sadly there seems to be a misconception pervading the larger development agencies and non-governmental organizations that the presence of a unity government in Zimbabwe means that the country's difficulties are being more effectively dealt with. Sadly, this is far from the reality."

Did you find this article beneficial? If so, please help MediaGlobal continue to provide you with development news from around the world by making a donation to support our operations.

MediaGlobal is an independent international media organization, based in the United Nations, creating awareness in the global media on social justice and development issues in the world's least developed countries. For more information, please contact us at: United Nations Secretariat, Room L-221 K, Dag Hammarskjold Library, New York, NY 10017. Telephone: 609.529.6129. Email: media@mediaglobal.org. Website: www.mediaglobal.org