By: Chris Michael, Posted: Jan 15 09

Regions: Zimbabwe

Issues: Health, Humanitarian, Impunity

Tags: cholera, crisis, Health, Healthcare, humanitarian, Mugabe, PHR, physicians, Zimbabwe

Physicians for Human Rights (PHR), which mobilizes health professionals to advance health, dignity, and justice and promotes the right to health for all, has released Health in Ruins: A Man-Made Disaster in Zimbabwe. 

The holistic 45-page report documents the collapse of Zimbabwe's health care system and calls into question the legitimacy of a regime that "has abrogated the most basic state functions in protecting the health of the population." PHR notes that the report also documents how the Mugabe regime has "used any means at its disposal, including politicizing the health sector, to maintain its hold on power.  Instead of fulfilling its obligation to progressively realize the right to health for the people of Zimbabwe, the Government has taken the country backwards, which has enabled the destruction of health, water, and sanitation - all with fatal consequences."

PHR also lists these five recommendations, and steps of action within each:
1.  Resolve the political impasse
2.  Launch an emergency health response
3.  Refer the situation in Zimbabwe to the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity
4. Convene an emergency summit on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and other infectious diseases.
5. Prevent further nutritional deterioration and ensure household food security

PHR's Use of Video

In addition to the written press release, PHR's CEO Frank Donaghue introduces the report via video - which (surprise) I think is fantastic.  In the four-minute video, Donaghue stays pretty on script to the written release, but adds how the report "examines how the widely reported cholera epidemic is a system of the utter collapse of the health care system...which was once a model in all of Southern Africa". 

Last November, Donaghue did something I think we will continue to see more of: he used video to urge viewers and supporters to take immediate action to address the health care crisis in Zimbabwe.  His two-minute message, recorded from his office, is a great example of integrating video quickly and directly in a campaign strategy (with their press release and petition). 

I have always loved PHR's work and its role as an independent, professional NGO that documents health rights violations around the world.  I appreciate them even more for their use of video, and look forward to seeing how they continue to integrate it into their work - and hopefully featuring it here on the Hub!

What Do You Think?

If you have seen other groups or organizations use video to introduce a report or similarly, please ping me the link.  For everyone, what do you think about the video?  Does it make you want to read the report or learn more?  Does it make you want to support the organization - either by forwarding the video and report or by donating? 

Additional Resources

Global Voices Online: Posts on Zimbabwe 
Blog: Crisis in Zimbabwe
BBC:  Zimbabwe Section