Zimbabwe and Covid-19: 'Patients are dying in the car park'
Compared to many other countries, Zimbabwe seems to have low numbers of Covid-19 cases and deaths. So far, more than 3,000 people have the virus, and 69 have died. But doctors say the official numbers are heavily underestimated and warn the country could soon see an explosion of cases - one they aren't ready to deal with because of a shortage of doctors, who have been on strike since before the coronavirus outbreadk, and PPE.
Professor Rashida Ferrand is an epidemiologist and physician at the Parirenyatwa General Hospital in Harare. The hospital has 300 beds with piped oxygen but is relying on volunteers and only has enough staff to use 30 of them. It means she's had to make the heartbreaking decision to turn patients away: "We've had patients dying in the car park".
(Photo: A woman and child are tested outside Mpilo Hospital in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe Credit: Getty Images)
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