 CNN reports: Cholera kills more than 1500 in Nigeria |
In an attempt to be honestly concerned about my fellow man, I went to the World Vision website and inquired about cholera. It cost me $100. Now, that is and isn't a lot of money. It'll barely cover a weekend's goofing off these days. I won't really miss it, at least not a lot. On the other hand, it'll buy a heck of a lot in the way of medicine and help in the places where it really matters. If you can hold that hundred dollars in your hand and ask yourself honestly who needs it most, perhaps you can find a little willingness to sacrifice a bit. If you consider it long enough to weep, you're not alone. Our brothers and sisters and their children could use a hand.
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World Vision Helps
The cholera crisis in Zimbabwe began in 2008, according to the UN World Health Organization. More than 4200 have died so far, and 90,000+ got sick. The outbreak is attributed to
the collapse of the country's health and sanitation services. Women and children account for 4 out of 5 cases.
Cholera is spread by contaminated water. It causes
extreme diarrhea and dehydration, and can quickly lead to death. Though
the disease is easily treated, most hospitals in Zimbabwe have closed
down, and there are no chemicals to purify drinking water.
Due to a shortage of purification chemicals, such as chlorine, the
capital city of Harare stopped receiving piped water on 1 December
2008.[a1]
By that date, many suburbs had not had any water supply for much
longer.[a2]
On 4 December 2008, the Zimbabwe deputy minister for water and
infrastructural development stated that there were only sufficient
treatment chemicals in stock nationally for twelve weeks supply.[a3] Many households cannot even afford sufficient fuel to boil all of their
water.[a4]
In Zimbabwe, fatality rates varied from 2.5% in Harare to 18% in Chitungwiza.[b1]
In Harare,
the crisis reached the extent that the city council offered free graves
to cholera victims.[b2]
Lagos, Nigeria (CNN) -- A cholera outbreak in Nigeria has killed more than 1,500 people, the United Nations said Tuesday. It is the worst cholera outbreak in Nigeria in recent years. The number of cases is three times higher than last year and seven times higher than in 2008, the United Nations Children's Fund said. The outbreak has led to 40,000 cases in Nigeria and resulted in 1,555 deaths, UNICEF said. Women and children account for four of every five cases, the agency said. Other African countries such as Sudan, pictured here, suffer as well.
It's been happening in Africa with regularity over the years. Sao Tome fought the same battle in 2006, Botswana, Mozambique, South Africa and Zambia beginning in '08, Nigeria in '10.
