Online Reporter
Patrick Chitumba, [email protected]
GWERU Provincial Hospital (GPH) will shortly receive cancer treatment machines like those being installed at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo, an official has said.
The development by the Second Republic is aimed at reducing reliance on health facilities in Harare and Bulawayo by decentralising cancer treatment services to major referral hospitals across the country.
The move marks a major step in strengthening Zimbabwe’s cancer treatment infrastructure, with the Government using revenue from the sugar tax to expand access to life-saving oncology services.
Introduced in 2024, the tax on sugar-sweetened beverages is earmarked to fund cancer diagnosis and treatment.
The health sector is poised for a major boost after Treasury collected more than US$191 million from airtime and sugar levies last year, funds that will go towards procuring and installing cancer machines at central hospitals.
President Mnangagwa has prioritised improving the health delivery system to ensure it adequately serves the populace.
Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care, Sleiman Kwidini, revealed this in an interview with Zimpapers.
“Gweru Provincial Hospital is also set to benefit from state-of-the-art cancer treatment machines such as the ones being installed at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo very soon as part of the decentralisation of cancer treatment across the country,” he said.
Deputy Minister Kwidini said the Government had received the first batch of specialised radiotherapy machines earmarked for Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals and Mpilo Central Hospital, with installation currently underway.
“Work has already begun at Gweru Provincial Hospital to install the equipment. This initiative is part of a broader investment of approximately US$30 million in Zimbabwe’s cancer treatment infrastructure,” he said.
Deputy Minister Kwidini said the expansion of public radiotherapy services is expected to ease pressure on existing facilities and improve access to affordable treatment for thousands of Zimbabweans living with cancer.
