ZIMBABWE’s second largest mobile network operator NetOne Cellular in partnership with Cancer Association of Zimbabwe (CAZ) on Saturday gave Mabvuku residents free breast cancer screening services.
By Kudakwashe Pembere
By lunch hour, over hundred females and more than 20 males including boxer Charles Manyuchi had their breasts examined. Nine referrals were made for further assessment and treatment.
NetOne public relations executive Dr Eldrette Shereni said this was part of their corporate social investments to raise awareness on various diseases.
Today we are in Mabvuku having a Community Health Expo where we are offering free breast cancer screening in partnership with Cancer Association of Zimbabwe. The reason for us to select Mabvuku this October is because Mabvuku is a big community where we feel that people sometimes don’t have an opportunity to get access to free screening regarding cancer.
“So that is why we said for the month of October where we commemorate Breast Cancer month, why not come to Mabvuku and give residents an opportunity to get free screening. This is an opportunity to get the cancer detected early and be given options for treatment,” she said.
CAZ General Manager Ms Junior Mavu said, “We are very happy and excited to be in Mabvuku near Kamunhu Shopping Centre we are screen breast cancer. October is breast cancer month and we have been doing initiatives since the beginning of this month. Today it’s courtesy of NetOne who have sponsored the breast cancer screening this.
“ I am also glad that among those who were screened were men. We are hoping that with Charles Manyuchi getting screened, alongside other males, many men will come for breast cancer screening. Breast cancer doesn’t only affect women but also men,” she said.
She added that breast cancer was ranked the second most common cancer among women in Zimbabwe.I
“Its ranked on fourth in terms of mortality as from 2016 statistics from the national cancer registry of Zimbabwe,” Mavu said.
Males and females from ages between 18 and 70 pitched up and urged the corporates to chip in as NetOne did. They said there should be as many days for free cancer screening.
