Introduce cancer levy, Govt urged

Martha Leboho
Government has been urged to consider introducing cancer levy and help in the fight against the deadly disease that continues to claim more lives countrywide.

Several local and international non-governmental organisations said cancer was now arguably one of the biggest killer diseases in the country and required an emergency response from Government.

Recently, President Mnangagwa disclosed that Government would consider introducing a cancer levy to help in the fight against the deadly disease.

Speaking during a tour in Zvishavane last week, a programme officer with a local NGO, Bethany, Mr Ngonidzashe Sesemani said it was high time Government comes up with a fund dedicated to the fight cancer.

Mr Sesemani said introduction of a cancer levy will further enhance local capacity to fight the deadly disease using funding mobilised locally.

“Cancer is one of the leading causes of deaths for many women in developing countries and we call upon Government to introduce cancer levy as a matter of urgency and just like the Aids levy, the proposed levy will help in improving the country’s cancer treatment capacity and procurement of the requisite equipment needed to treat cancer patients.’’

“This deadly disease (cancer) requires serious attention and waiting to raise money and undergoing a cancer treatment outside the country is very expensive.

If a cancer levy is introduced, it will immensely benefit the poor who live in rural communities,” said Mr Sesemani.

Women’s Rights and Gender Justice coordinator at Oxfam Mrs Tinotenda Hondo said they were also advocating for a screening and testing programme to fight and reduce the rise in cancer related-deaths, mainly in women.

Mrs Hondo said the majority of Zimbabweans lacked capacity to pay for cancer treatment due to economic challenges.

“We are appealing to Government to introduce a screen-and-treat project to reduce cancer-related deaths.

“Government should also lobby sponsors and donors to support the screen-and-treat project,” she said.

There has been a growing chorus for Government to do more in the fight against cancer by introducing a levy to build a war chest against the deadly disease that accounts for many deaths in the country today.