adminZIMBABWE is set to benefit from the World Health Organisation’s new set of guidelines for treating cancer which will help release the strain on a stretched health budget.
Due to the country’s economic challenges, the health sector has been under funded and this has resulted in the poor failing to get medication.
“In Zimbabwe where competition for limited funds is high, cancer has remained low on the agenda. Lack of resources makes it difficult to attract and retain health care providers and it also results in shortages of essential chemotherapy pain control medicines, cancer diagnostics and treatment equipment.
“All these factors combined increase the morbidity and mortality caused by cancer,” said Minister of Heath and Child Care Dr David Parirenyatwa in the recently published national cancer prevention and control strategy for Zimbabwe.
About 5 000 people are diagnosed with cancer annually in the country. Cervical cancer accounts for 32 percent of all cancers among women. It starts in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus that opens at the top of the vagina, and is caused by the human papilloma virus (HPV).
WHO on Wednesday urged governments in developing countries to use two doses of Human papilloma virus vaccine to prevent HPV.
“With HPV testing,” reads the communiqué, “the frequency of screening will decrease.
“Once a woman has been screened negative, she should not be rescreened for at least five years but should be rescreened within 10. This represents a major cost-saving for health systems, in comparison with other types of tests.
“Vaccinate nine to 13-year-old girls with two doses of HPV vaccine to prevent infection with the Human papilloma virus (HPV). The reduced, two-dose schedule has been shown to be as effective as the current three-dose schedule. The change will make it easier to administer the vaccine.
“In addition, it reduces the cost, which is particularly important for low-and middle-income countries where national health budgets are constrained but where the need for HPV vaccine is the greatest.”
Dr Nathalie Broutet, a leading WHO expert on cervical cancer prevention and control, said: “WHO’s updated cervical cancer guidance can be the difference between life and death for girls and women worldwide.
“There are no magic bullets, but the combination of more effective and affordable tools to prevent and treat cervical cancer will help release the strain on stretched health budgets, especially in low-income countries, and contribute drastically to the elimination of cervical cancer.”
Londile Moyo
Online Reporter