Online Reporter
Arron Nyamayaro
The Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) has teamed up with the Cancer Association of Zimbabwe (CAZ) to offer screening services to inmates.
Presently, ZPCS health experts are collaborating with various health institutions to educate both inmates and officers on the crucial need for regular check-ups and early diagnosis of conditions such as prostate and cervical cancer, diabetes and hypertension.
This comes as ZPCS Commissioner-General Moses Chihobvu, recently, led his senior officers for health condition check-ups, urging all prison officers to undergo early screening.
This week, ZPCS, in partnership with the CAZ, launched initiatives aimed at promoting health across prisons in all provinces.
Provincial Medical Officer Chief Superintendent Itai Memory Vengesai said access to health services is a fundamental right for all individuals, including those in correctional facilities.
“As we celebrate World Cancer Day every 4th of February, we decided to collaborate with the Cancer Association of Zimbabwe to provide screening for inmates aged 40 and above. Our mandate is to ensure that inmates are reintegrated into society in good health. It’s important to note that the health of inmates is tied to the health of the community.”
This initiative underscores ZPCS’s commitment to improving the welfare of both officers and inmates through comprehensive healthcare provision and rehabilitation support systems.
Ms Cordelia Marekera, Sister In Charge at the Cancer Association of Zimbabwe, emphasised the organisation’s mission to spread cancer awareness and alleviate its burden nationwide.
She noted that inmates often lack the privilege to seek cancer screenings on their own.
Participants in the screening exercise expressed their gratitude for the opportunity, highlighting how the programme has empowered them to understand their health statuses and the risks associated with prostate cancer.
