Govt to step up cancer treatment

Herald Reporter
Government is looking at ways of boosting the management and treatment of cancers, particularly breast cancer, which contribute to more deaths than HIV, TB and malaria combined, Health and Child Care Minister Dr David Parirenyatwa has said.
Speaking at a Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign at SouthMed (CitiMed) Chitungwiza Hospital, Dr Parirenyatwa said:
“Breast cancer is ranked number two in terms of morbidity and mortality among cancers that affect women in Zimbabwe.
“New breast cancer cases increased from 332 in 2010 to 691 in 2011. Breast cancer in men is also being reported.

“The Government of Zimbabwe, through the Ministry of Health and Child Care, is promoting, supporting and providing breast cancer screening services at health facility level, educating women and men to self breast examine.”

Dr Parirenyatwa noted that there was a need to decentralise cancer treatment in Government hospitals because there are only two Government hospitals — Parirenyatwa and Mpilo — offering cancer treatment and management services.

The focus is to raise awareness on the risks of breast cancer, prevention, screening and treatment options and to urge governments, non-governmental organisations, corporates, communities and individuals to support breast cancer control efforts.

A surgeon at SouthMed, Dr Mathew Wazara, said the hospital carried out an open day concept where patients come for consultation free of charge on a quarterly basis.

The campaign was graced by a number of delegations, especially from health institutions including Dr Obadiah Moyo, the chief executive officer of Chitungwiza Central Hospital, Dr Timothy Goche of CitiMed and Mrs Patience Nyemba of the Cancer Association of Zimbabwe.