MDC legislator dies after contracting flu
By Alex Bell
17 August 2009
A legislator for the MDC faction led by Morgan Tsvangirai passed away this weekend, shortly after contracting flu.
MDC-T House of Assembly representative for Emakhandeni-Entumbane constituency in Bulawayo, Cornelius Dube, died Saturday afternoon after being admitted to hospital on Thursday evening with respiratory complications. His family, who said he had contracted flu last week, has described him as a committed, dependable and principled man who not only stood for his family but the nation at large. Dube leaves behind a wife and three children.
The late MP, who is expected to be laid to rest on Thursday, had been actively involved in politics with the MDC since 1999. Between 2003 and 2005 he was elected as councilor for Emakhandeni-Entumbane, before being elected to the House of Assembly last year.
His death comes as fears grow that the worldwide swine flu pandemic will take its toll on Zimbabwe, where the entire health system collapsed last year. Experts have expressed concerns that with few doctors available as a result of the current doctors strike, the country would fail to deal with any potential disease outbreaks as happened with the cholera epidemic that wreaked havoc last year.
Although there has been no official or medical confirmation that MP Dube?s death was caused by swine flu, his death is indicative of the vulnerability of most Zimbabweans to sickness and disease. Doctors meanwhile last week refused to end their strike, dismissing promises by the Health Service Board to amend their monthly allowances that had been withdrawn, reportedly in error, by the government two weeks ago. The group of striking medical professionals, made up mainly of junior doctors, meanwhile has been widely admonished for the strike that threatens the recovery of the health system.
Last week, the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights said it ?deplores? the ongoing strike, saying: ?Unavailability of health services ultimately results in increased morbidity and preventable deaths.?
http://www.swradioafrica.com/news170809/mdclegis170809.htm
By Alex Bell
17 August 2009
A legislator for the MDC faction led by Morgan Tsvangirai passed away this weekend, shortly after contracting flu.
MDC-T House of Assembly representative for Emakhandeni-Entumbane constituency in Bulawayo, Cornelius Dube, died Saturday afternoon after being admitted to hospital on Thursday evening with respiratory complications. His family, who said he had contracted flu last week, has described him as a committed, dependable and principled man who not only stood for his family but the nation at large. Dube leaves behind a wife and three children.
The late MP, who is expected to be laid to rest on Thursday, had been actively involved in politics with the MDC since 1999. Between 2003 and 2005 he was elected as councilor for Emakhandeni-Entumbane, before being elected to the House of Assembly last year.
His death comes as fears grow that the worldwide swine flu pandemic will take its toll on Zimbabwe, where the entire health system collapsed last year. Experts have expressed concerns that with few doctors available as a result of the current doctors strike, the country would fail to deal with any potential disease outbreaks as happened with the cholera epidemic that wreaked havoc last year.
Although there has been no official or medical confirmation that MP Dube?s death was caused by swine flu, his death is indicative of the vulnerability of most Zimbabweans to sickness and disease. Doctors meanwhile last week refused to end their strike, dismissing promises by the Health Service Board to amend their monthly allowances that had been withdrawn, reportedly in error, by the government two weeks ago. The group of striking medical professionals, made up mainly of junior doctors, meanwhile has been widely admonished for the strike that threatens the recovery of the health system.
Last week, the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights said it ?deplores? the ongoing strike, saying: ?Unavailability of health services ultimately results in increased morbidity and preventable deaths.?
http://www.swradioafrica.com/news170809/mdclegis170809.htm