admin
Rumbidzayi Zinyuke in Kadoma
In a move that seeks to tackle the growing burden of lung cancer, the Ministry of Health and Child Care today convened an inception meeting for the National Lung Cancer Programme.
The Hope for Lungs project, which is being supported by Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation through the Jointed Hands Welfare Organisation (JHWO), aims to improve access to early diagnostic services and treatment for lung cancer in the country.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths worldwide, accounting for approximately 1,8 million deaths annually.
In Zimbabwe, an estimated 1 200 new cases of lung cancer are diagnosed annually, resulting in around 800 deaths.
Tobacco use is a major risk factor for lung cancer, and Zimbabwe has a significant tobacco usage problem.
The country has approximately 864 292 male and 37 181 female adult smokers.
The adult smoking prevalence currently stands at 8.5 percent, with 18 percent being men and 0.7 percent being female smokers.
Online Reporter