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Rumbidzayi Zinyuke and Vongai Chinjeke
Zimbabwe has been recording an increase in the number of children suffering from cancer due to poor health seeking behaviour by most parents, and stakeholders have been implored to help in raising awareness to save the lives.
Speaking during a tour of the children’s cancer unit at Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals by the Ambassador of Palestine to Zimbabwe Tamer Almassri yesterday, paediatric oncologist Dr Loyce Hlatywayo said the unit had been admitting two to three new cancer patients every week.
“Globally childhood cancer is rare and one in 100 000 children will have cancer. But even after saying so, we are seeing a rise in childhood cancer across the world,” said Dr Hlatywayo.
“This unit is the only one providing care to children with cancer in Zimbabwe. We have children who come from all over the country to seek care for childhood cancer. On average we have at least 17 patients admitted in the wards. Every day we see at least 15 patients that come in for outpatient chemotherapy, so it is a busy unit. What we see is that our children are coming in very late, but 80 percent of our children can actually be cured of cancer if they present early.”
Dr Hlatywayo said the most common cancers in children included cancer of the blood (leukaemia), wound tumour (cancer of the kidneys) and retinoblastoma (cancer of the eyes).
She said cancer was an expensive disease to diagnose and treat hence the need for more support for the country to reach set goals in terms of curing and supporting children with cancer.
Ambassador Almassri pledged to support Zimbabwe in the fight to reduce the burden of childhood cancer.
“We should work together to support the children with cancer. I know this is the only hospital that provides care to children with cancer and I can promise that this will not be our last visit to these children,” he said.
Ambassador Almassri commended the hospital and the team of doctors working with the children and said childhood cancer needed to be given more prominence to get more partners to support the cause.
KidzCan director Mr Daniel Mckenzie called for increased support towards the cancer unit as well as raising awareness across the country.
“The challenge that we have in Zimbabwe is that many of our parents do not know that children get cancer. We need to send out the message that we have a fantastic ward here and people should know that if they present early, they can be treated and assisted.
“Our patients go through a lot and we should respect and honour them. We cannot change life, but together we can make a difference through our hands,” he said.
Ambassador Almassri donated an assortment of gifts for children in the cancer ward that included toys, crayons, hygiene packs (towels, bath soap, toothbrush, toothpaste and petroleum jelly).
KinderCare Zimbabwe presented stationery boxes for the children.
Online Reporter