adminH-Metro Reporters
THERE is a need to encourage each other to work on closing the care gaps by focusing on reducing inequalities in cancer care as the world commemorates World Cancer Day (WCD), the Cancer Association of Zimbabwe (CAZ) has said.
This year’s WCD is running under the theme “closing the care gaps”.
CAZ Information, research and evaluation officer, Lovemore Makurirofa, said it is imperative to share information about the current cancer situation in Zimbabwe so that there is a collective struggle to reduce the national cancer burden.
“The theme ‘Close the Gap’ calls for individuals, corporates, civil society and government to commit themselves to the reduction of the global cancer burden through improving comprehensive cancer care to all.
“This call is in line with Zimbabwe’s current drive towards universal health coverage (UHC) by 2030.
“Research has already shown that solutions do exist across the continuum of cancer. Cancer is now acknowledged as a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Zimbabwe.
“According to the Zimbabwe National Cancer Registry (ZNCR), the total number of new cancer cases recorded in 2018 was 7 841 comprising 3 301 (42.1 percent) males and 4 540 (57.9 percent) females,” he said.
He said the most frequently occurring cancers among Zimbabweans of all races in 2018 were cervix uteri (21 percent), prostate (11 percent), breast (8 percent), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) (5 percent), oesophagus (4 percent), Kaposi sarcoma (KS) (4 percent), colorectal (4 percent), stomach (3 percent) and liver (3 percent).
“These alarming statistics are however, widely acknowledged as an underestimation of the national cancer burden as many cancer cases escape the National Health Information System (NHIS) because many patients do not seek the modern treatment due to myths and misconceptions about cancer.
“The few patients who present themselves for treatment usually do so very late when cancer is at advanced stages resulting in little chances of treatment success.”
According to the National Cancer Registry, about 80 percent of the cancer patients visit hospitals with advanced cancers, usually at Stage 3 and 4.
HIV-related cancers are also on the increase, with almost 60percent of all new cancer cases being HIV and AIDS related.
“Achievements such as decentralisation of the cervical cancer screening by the Ministry of Health and Child Care and its partners, establishment of two radiotherapy centre (Parirenyatwa and Mpilo radiotherapy Centres), and local training of most of the cancer care specialists, including the recently introduced oncology nurse training, are all notable efforts to reduce the national cancer burden in Zimbabwe.
“These milestone achievements and other efforts from various stakeholders should, however, be sustained in order to improve the cancer situation in Zimbabwe.”
He said there are various gaps in the cancer care continuum from diagnosis to survivorship.
“Access to cancer information and management services is limited and greatly varies by one’s economic status (poor/rich), area of residence (urban/rural), age (children/adults) and gender.”
Online Reporter