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Speaking at the official launch of a new four-year pool of funding for sexual and reproductive health in Harare yesterday, Minister Madzorera said with the 60 million pounds already committed to the fund for cervical cancer among other components, Government looked forward to establishing screening sites throughout the country.
“The cervical cancer screening sites will utilise the visual inspection with ascetic acid and cervicography, which is a cost effective method and one gets results immediately,” Minister Madzorera said.
Currently, women are screened for cervical cancer through pap smear, which is expensive and can only be done by a doctor.
With pap smear, patients leave their samples and collect results on another day.
However, VIAC can be done by nurses and results come out immediately.
“Lack of knowledge and information and high costs of screening and treatment are also a deterrent factor for most women in accessing cervical cancer screening services,” said Minister Madzorera.
Minister Madzorera said the coverage of screening services for cervical cancer was 7,2 percent nationwide.
Harare City Council acting mayor Charles Nyatsuro said in Harare, the programme started in November 2011 at Edith Oppermen clinic.
He said it had since been extended to Wilkins, Highfield and Warren Park poly clinics.
Online Reporter