Online Reporter
Rumbidzayi Zinyuke
Senior Health Reporter
ZIMBABWE’s drive to eliminate cervical cancer has received a major boost following the handover of cancer screening, diagnostic and treatment equipment and supplies by the World Health Organisation, as the country intensifies efforts to tackle one of the leading causes of cancer deaths among women.
The cancer equipment, donated under the Women Integrated Cancer Services (WICS) Project, forms part of a broader WHO consignment valued at more than US$350 000, which also includes cholera response supplies such as emergency tents and other essential materials to strengthen Zimbabwe’s preparedness and response to disease outbreaks.
The cancer equipment package includes ultrasound machines, biopsy equipment, laboratory equipment and specimen collection supplies, providing a complete set for cervical cancer screening, diagnosis and treatment.
The donation was handed over to Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora by WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr Mohamed Yakub Janabi in Harare yesterday.
Dr Janabi, who is in Zimbabwe to attend the Joint SADC Ministers of Finance and Health Meeting being held in the capital, said the donation was guided by Zimbabwe’s own health priorities and was intended to complement Government efforts to eliminate cervical cancer.
“The countries tell us their priorities and your Ministry (of Health) presented that one of the challenges facing Zimbabwe, as with many developing countries in Africa, is cervical cancer. We listened to that and aligned our support accordingly. This is a complete set for cervical cancer, from ultrasound machines and biopsy equipment to laboratory equipment. It is all meant to enhance your fight against cervical cancer for Zimbabwean women,” he said.
The donation comes as cervical cancer remains the most common cancer among women in Zimbabwe and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths.
According to the National Cancer Registry, the disease accounts for about one-third of all cancers diagnosed among women, with more than 3 000 new cases and over 2 000 deaths recorded annually.
Dr Janabi said WHO was complementing Government efforts to strengthen cancer services.
“No one is supposed to die of cervical cancer in the 21st century. Once women come early for screening, this is one of the cancers that can be prevented and successfully treated.”
Dr Janabi urged women to take advantage of screening services while calling for continued investment in maintaining the equipment and training health workers.
He said the donated equipment would support the decentralisation of cancer services by bringing screening, diagnosis and treatment closer to communities, particularly in rural areas.
“If we can detect cancers at an early stage, we avoid situations where patients only reach tertiary hospitals when all that can be offered is palliative care rather than treatment that can cure the disease,” Dr Janabi said.
Receiving the equipment, Dr Mombeshora said the donation would significantly strengthen Zimbabwe’s cancer programme.
He said ultrasound machines included in the donation would be deployed to rural districts to improve access to services.
“We also have ultrasound machines which are going to be employed in our rural districts so that we take services nearer to the people and make sure they are accessible.”
Dr Mombeshora said the donation complements ongoing national efforts led by the Government and the cervical cancer elimination campaign championed by the First Lady Dr Auxillia Mnangagwa.
The Minister said the WHO had remained a trusted partner to Zimbabwe, supporting the country through public health emergencies, including the Covid-19 pandemic and cholera outbreaks, while strengthening disease surveillance, primary health care and health systems resilience.
“The equipment and supplies being handed over today represent a strategic investment in the health and wellbeing of Zimbabwean women. They will strengthen our capacity for screening, early diagnosis and treatment and bring essential services closer to the communities that need them most. This initiative is fully aligned with our National Health Strategy, National Development Strategy 2 and our commitment to Universal Health Coverage and the WHO Global Strategy for the Elimination of Cervical Cancer as a Public Health Problem,” he said.
Dr Mombeshora said the cholera response supplies received alongside the cancer equipment would further bolster the country’s capacity to respond rapidly to disease outbreaks.
He noted that although Zimbabwe has made significant gains in life expectancy, immunisation, HIV epidemic control and health systems strengthening, the country continues to face a growing burden of non-communicable diseases, particularly cervical cancer, breast cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
