Online Reporter
Walter Nyamukondiwa
Mashonaland West Bureau Chief
The Government has finalised plans for the procurement of cancer screening and treatment machines for Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare and Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo.
The initiative, funded by proceeds from the sugar tax, will also see screening, treatment and care extended to three additional centres: Victoria Chitepo Provincial Hospital in Mutare, Gweru Provincial Hospital and Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital.
Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora said the ministry completed the planning process last week, paving the way for the rollout of procurement as the year progresses.
“The Government, led by President Mnangagwa last year, started collecting the sugar tax to help in the screening, diagnostic and treatment of cancer and other non-communicable diseases,” said Dr Mombeshora.
“We now have the money and last week we finalised plans for the procurement of machines for the screening, diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other non-communicable diseases.”
He said while additional machines will be installed at Parirenyatwa and Mpilo, the expansion to more hospitals is crucial to improving access to cancer care across the country.
“We also realise that we cannot only have two places offering the services in the country. We are adding Gweru, Victoria Chitepo and Chinhoyi Provincial Hospitals.”
Statistics indicate that at least 40 percent of all cancers in Zimbabwe are HIV-related.
While advancements in treatment have enabled people living with HIV to have longer lives, they now face an increased risk of developing non-communicable diseases such as cancer.
In particular, cervical cancer is six times more prevalent among women with HIV compared to those without the virus.
