Zimbabwe asks world to help in the fight against cholera

Months after the first cholera infection was diagnosed, which led to an epidemic that has spilled over to South Africa, the Zimbabwean government has declared the epidemic a national emergency.

According to the authorities, 563 people have died so far and more then 6000 are receiving cholera treatment.

The Zimbabwean government led by president Robert Mugabe has asked donor countries to step to the plate and to help Zimbabwe by providing the necessary aid to prevent more lives from being lost.

"The government yesterday declared the cholera outbreak ... and the malfunctioning of central hospitals as national emergencies and appealed to the donor community for assistance to alleviate the situation," the state owned Herald newspaper said.

Zimbabwe's health minister David Parirenyatwa said that there is a critical shortage of resources in the health sector. "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," he added.

The UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) announced that it will increase health services, and provide nutritional supplements and widen access to safe water in Zimbabwe.

Its effort will include buying essential medicines for 70 percent of the Zimbabwe's population of 11 million, immunisation for 1.5 million children and emergency support and protection for 250,000 orphans and vulnerable children.