adminLifestyle Editor
Last Saturday Africa Unity Square was the venue for the annual Cimas Health Expo which saw the medical aid and health service provider attracting a large crowd to learn about their state of wellness. As has become the norm for most outreach events in the country, Cimas capitalised on drama and music to send their messages across. The crowd was thrilled with the chance to see premier musician Jah Prayzah on stage without having paid a cover charge. But for discerning people the main attraction were the tents set up to give free health checks including weigh-ups, blood glucose and pressure checks as well as body mass index calculations. In addition one would receive some advice on how to improve or maintain their health.
Key messages on pamphlets and in the artistic acts included the importance of medical cover and lifestyle choices as a factor in heightening chances of non-pandemic diseases. There was also information on the side effects of ARVs and how those affected should deal with them without defaulting. There were several other related organisations also present including the Cancer Association of Zimbabwe whose tent seemed to be predominantly a place to debunk myths associated with various cancers.
The organisation which is located along Livingstone Avenue in Harare offers comprehensive cancer testing services at $20 and in addition provides counselling and other support for those who are diagnosed with the debilitating illness which occurs when some cells in the body mutate and start growing at rapid rates to the detriment of the system. Population Services International was also present and a number of people took advantage of their free voluntary testing and counselling sessions. The number of people at the tents bore testimony to the fact that a good number of the population has taken the message of knowing one’s status to heart.
At one point a counsellor had to address those still waiting to be registered to be patient as the team was battling to serve clients and they wanted to avoid making people who had started the process wait for too long.
Too many people in the country have low health-seeking behaviour with the majority assuming that the absence of specific ailments at a certain time equals good health. So most people in the park interviewed said that they had just bumped into the expo and decided to stop awhile to find out what was going on. But most interviewed said they had benefited greatly through arcane and specific knowledge.
“I found out that my blood pressure is too high. Yet I had never thought of going for testing because I did not know that there was something wrong. At least now that I know, I am going to try measures like dieting and exercise to avoid being dependant on pills for the rest of my life,” said Sheila Mwakutuya of Avondale.
Online Reporter