Chronicle Editor
Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
WOMEN who insert herbs in their reproductive organs risk getting cervical cancer and other complications with studies showing the practice is common in Matabeleland North and South provinces.
Speaking during a sensitisation workshop on cervical cancer and HIV organised by the Organisation for Public Health Interventions and Development recently, an official with the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Mr Douglas Muzavazi said cervical cancer was the most common cancer in Zimbabwe.
“In Zimbabwe cervical cancer is the most common form of cancer that is found and affects relatively young women. We are doing studies and have noted that mostly women from Matabeleland South and North lead in terms of using herbs for sexual pleasure purposes,” he said.
Mr Muzavazi said women from these two provinces have been found to insert herbs in their organs more often and this could be attributed to lack of knowledge.
Women with cancer can be screened using the Visual Inspection with Acetic Acid (VIAC) for free at all Government hospitals.
However, according to the Zimbabwe Demographic Health Survey (ZDHS) 2015, there was a 65 percent treatment rate for women that had been screened for cervical cancer and found to be VIAC positive in 2018.
Mr Muzavazi said it was the ministry’s wish to reach 80 percent treatment rate as recommended by the World Health Organisation.
OPHID Cervical Cancer screening and Treatment programme manager Ms Muchaneta Mandara said when women seek treatment for cancer there were a number of challenges they encounter.
“Women that are found to be VIAC positive have challenges in that some do not return for treatment saying their husbands refused or they did not get money for transport to return to the health centre,” she said.
Ms Mandara said some men were discouraging their wives to seek treatment fearing going for days without sex.
Sister Tafadzwa Chimwanza from the United Bulawayo Hospitals VIAC centre said women were not seeking services because of various misconceptions.
“There are many myths and misconceptions that are associated with cervical cancer screening that are making women shy away. Women tell each other that the tool that we use to look in to the opening of the cervix (speculum) is a big metal tool so some women do not even want to come and be screened because of that,” she said.
Sr Chimwanza said she had come across women who use herbs for sexual enhancement.
“We have come across women who insert roots and herbs in the cervix all because they want to tighten their sex organs or remove excess fluids.
The challenge is that they do not even know where to insert the herbs because they actually insert in the opening of the cervix and not in the sex organ itself. But we discourage them from inserting anything in that area as they will be at risk of getting cervical cancer,” she said.
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