Zimbabwe's health sector got a major boost at the weekend when the country received 140 tons of medical supplies airlifted into the country by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), The Herald reported on Tuesday.

This is in response to the Zimbabwe government's request for assistance to combat cholera and revive the health delivery system.

As part of its 120-day emergency plan launched soon after the Zimbabwe government's request, UNICEF pledged to procure essential medicines for 1,780 health facilities in the country and supply cholera treatment centers with medicines and equipment.

UNICEF acting representative to Zimbabwe Roeland Monasch said the delivery, which arrived in batches on Sunday and Monday, comprises intravenous fluids, oral rehydration supplies, drip equipment, essential drugs, midwifery and obstetric kits to be used in the cholera response and the provision of essential services to expectant mothers.

"This is a strategic measure to address a desperate situation. We are already supplying 70 percent of the country's essential drug and these airlifted supplies will further boost UNICEF's life-saving support," said Monasch.

Two of the three planes carrying the drugs landed in the country on Sunday morning while the third arrived on Monday.

At least 1,000 people have died of cholera while nearly 24,000 cases have been reported in Zimbabwe since August this year. However, the disease has been contained and cases are on the decline, the report said.

According to the UNICEF, the closure of major hospitals owing to a prolonged nurses and doctors' strike, lack of drugs and equipment worsened the situation.

Dutch Ambassador to Zimbabwe Joseph Weterings said the Netherlands would do everything to help Zimbabweans.

Responding to the Zimbabwean government's request for assistance to combat cholera and put the health delivery system back on track, the Netherlands has allocated an additional US$11.7 million in humanitarian aid to Zimbabwe. This comes in addition to the 15 million dollars already made available to Zimbabwe this year.

The UNICEF is supplying more than half a million liters of potable water every day, and 3,800 tons of treatment chemicals for all urban areas in Zimbabwe, among other life-saving interventions during the current emergency.

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 The Southern African Development Community (SADC) has launched an emergency request for medical aid.

Last week, the United Nations Population Fund donated five tons of 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 drug.

Two weeks earlier, South Africa had partnered the Zimbabwean government to contain the cholera outbreak in Beitbridge.

Other non-governmental organizations and UN agencies have also assisted through the provision of incentives for staff working in cholera treatment centers, logistics and experienced staff.

(Xinhua News Agency December 23, 2008)