Zimbabwe has recorded dozens of fresh cholera cases in outlying areas areas after the government started firing dozens of striking junior doctors.

In an alert, aid agencies said 12 cases of cholera were recorded in the eastern parts of the country where Zimbabwe’s first five confirmed cases of swine flu or influenza A (HINI) were detected last week.

No fatalities from cholera have been recorded so far but NGOs that dispatched relief workers on Friday said they feared the outbreak could escalate because of the strike by doctors.

“The outbreak of cholera has caused panic among community members and health personnel. Nurses in charge fear that there is likely to be more cholera cases in the area,” read the alert.

Last year, 4,288 Zimbabweans succumbed to a devastating cholera epidemic that left 98,592 people infected.

The epidemic also coincided with a long drawn out strike by health workers protesting against poor pay and deteriorating conditions at health centres.

United Nations officials last week said Zimbabwe’s humanitarian situation remained precarious despite the formation of the unity government seven months ago.

The causes of last year‘s cholera epidemic – poor sanitation and lack of access to clean water – still remain unresolved.

The unity government formed between President Robert Mugabe and his long time rival Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has failed to attract support from donors because the agreement that led to the formation of the coalition has not been fully implemented.

Despite managing to re-open schools and hospitals the government argues that it does not have money to pay its workers adequately.

Dozens of junior doctors downed tools a fortnight ago saying the government was now able to find resources elsewhere including using fees paid by patients to boost health staff allowances.

The doctors’ salaries average US$170 a month. In a shock move, the union representing the striking doctors said hospital authorities started dismissing its members on Friday.

Zimbabwe Hospital Doctors Association president Dr Brighton Chizhanje said they had been barred from attending to patients and advised to re-apply for re-engagement.

“We expect our members at the hospitals to also get similar letters soon,” Dr Chizhanje told an online news website.

“The authorities are using an organised strategy to threaten doctors….cowering them into submission.”

Dr Chizhanje said: “I’m not sure if these people are really in their minds, telling doctors they no longer want their services. It will take longer for patients to be seen … there will be chaos.”

He said the action against the doctors was a “big blow” to efforts being done by the inclusive government to re-attract health personnel who left the country for better paying jobs abroad.

Health and Child Welfare minister, Dr Henry Madzorera said he was not aware that the doctors were being dismissed but he admitted the outbreak of swine flu and cholera highlighted a looming health and humanitarian crisis in the southern African country.

(Source)