Group: Zimbabwe in healthcare crisis

HARARE, Zimbabwe, Nov. 19 (UPI) -- Zimbabwe is headed for a public health catastrophe, healthcare professionals in the African nation say.

Hospital closings, disruption of water and electricity, a major cholera epidemic and a breakdown in delivery of medications for HIV-AIDS, TB and malaria could lead to massive deaths, Physicians for Human Rights said in a statement.

The group called on the United Nations and individual nations to respond to the crisis.

"The international community has taken upon itself the responsibility to protect civilians whose lives are threatened on a large scale by government failures," said the rights group's chief executive, Frank Donaghue.

He said the international community, acting through the United Nations, should devise a way to step in urgently to replace critical functions of a health system that has totally collapsed.

"PHR is concerned that all the early-warning signs and worsening health indicators are also present to threaten peace and security in the region," he added.