China donates $500,000 to support Zimbabwe cholera fighting

HARARE, Dec. 23 (Chinese media) -- China donated 500,000

U.S. dollars to Zimbabwe on Tuesday to boost the country's efforts to arrest

cholera epidemic which has killed more than 1,000 people since the first

outbreak in August.

Speaking at the donation ceremony at the Health

Ministry office building in Harare, He Meng, Charge d'Affair of the Chinese

Embassy in Harare, said as a long-term friend of Zimbabwe, China shares the

concerns of international community over the current cholera situation, and

sympathies with Zimbabwean people in their sufferings.

"At the moment, Zimbabwean people are eagerly waiting

for assistance fighting against cholera, we sincerely hope and believe that the

money would be made best use of under the coordination of the Zimbabwean

government and UN agencies, so as to alleviate the epidemic situation and help

Zimbabwean people to overcome challenges at an earlier date, " He said.

Zimbabwe's Health and Child Welfare Minister David

Parirenyatwa said with the help of international organizations and countries

friendly like China, the situation is now much better. He spoke highly of good

relations between the two countries.

At least 1,000 people have died of cholera while

nearly 24,000 cases have been reported in Zimbabwe since August this year.

However, reports on Tuesday say the disease has been contained and cases are on

the decline.

Zimbabwe's health sector got a major boost at the

weekend when the country received 140 tons of medical supplies from the United

Nations Children's Fund.

Since Zimbabwe declared cholera and the health system

a national emergency, a number of donors and diplomats have come in with

sizeable donations.

Over the weekend, Tanzania donated 40 tons of medical

supplies to fight the cholera epidemic while SADC has launched an emergency

request for medical aid.

Last week, the United Nations Population Fund donated

five tonsof surgical sundries towards central hospitals' maternity services for

a period of at least three months.

A fortnight ago, Namibia responded to Zimbabwean

government's request for assistance with a donation of 200,000 dollars worth of

drugs.

Two weeks earlier, South Africa had partnered the

Zimbabweans government to contain the cholera outbreak in Beitbridge.

Other non-governmental organisations and UN agencies

have also assisted through the provision of incentives for staff working in

cholera treatment centres, logistics and experienced staff.

The assistance from the donor community is earmarked

either for cholera or revival of the health sector.