Not to Forget

Reader, things are going from bad to worse in Zimbabwe. Last time we checked in about the cholera epidemic, the death toll stood at 600 with estimates of the affected at 11,000. Now estimates of deaths and illness have doubled with the UN World Health Organization predicting that 60,000 could become ill.

The breakdown of infrastructure continues to present hurdles to stemming the epidemic. Check out this quote from a Doctors Without Borders worker:

"Imagine a cholera ward with dozens of people under the most basic conditions. For instance, there is only a little electricity so there is hardly any light. It is difficult for the doctors and nurses to even see the patients they are treating. The nurses have to monitor multitudes of IV bags to make sure they don't run dry which is also difficult to do in the dark and when there are so many patients."

Blergh. What's even more screwed up is that no one is reporting this. The NY Times for example, last reported on this issue over a week ago, which I guess speaks to American fatigue of African epidemics. Still not sure whether to buy gifts this holiday season? Consider donating instead.

Of course I had no trouble finding trashy reality TV tidbits or videos of bebeh hippos for your procrastination pleasure:



Happy Friday!