By Kudakwashe Pembere
A plethora of challenges within the public health sector are stalling Zimbabwe’s progress in the elimination of cervical cancer which despite commendably rolling out some programs, the country is ranked fourth regionally and globally in terms of the disease burden.
The battle against cervical cancer in Zimbabwe is far from being won until these challenges bedeviling the public health delivery system are resolved.
Amongst the challenges mentioned are the malfunctioning radiotherapy machines, shortage of cervical cancer specialists and staff as well as laboratory equipment and pathologists.
This emerged during a tour of some of the cancer treatment centres in the country by a World Health Organization (WHO) delegation from Geneva, the Headquarters.
The delegation was led by WHO Non-Communicable Diseases Director Dr Bente Mikkelsen.
Dr Mikkelsen during a tour of Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals in Harare commended the country for its commitment to decentralizing the treatment and screening of cervical cancer.
“And also thank you for being so open-minded and telling us about challenges, because if we don’t speak about challenges, we will go nowhere. So the reason why we are here, as Dr. Sara says as well, is that we want to identify where WHO at the three levels, from HQ level to through the region and at the country level can help,” she said.
She encouraged Zimbabwe to apply for the US$600 million grant pledged for the Cervical Cancer Elimination Initiative.
“I want to mention that because for the first time ever since we introduced Director General Tedros’ flagship program on cervical cancer elimination, we have seen partners coming together. So it was actually a pledge of US$ 600 million made in Cartagena, and that gives hope.
“This is not money that they sent to us, unfortunately. This is money we need to try to trigger from our partners. So I think if we are able to get a succinct sort of list of asks, and you have mentioned many of the things that is already on your mind. This is a way that we can bring partners together,” Dr Mikkelsen said.
Health and Child Care Minister Dr Douglas Mombeshora said while government introduced sin taxes to finance cancer initiatives, technical and financial support was important to expedite the treatment and early diagnosis of the disease.
“While the government is also coming up with a program to actually treat cancer patients. But this is not only for cervical cancer. But I think a holistic approach for all cancer patients. Government is trying to ringfence some money through sin taxes and other means so that we equip our hospitals with that equipment.
“But if our partners come in, it will be done faster so that we meet the target of eliminating cervical cancer by 2030. If we do it alone, it may take us another 30 years to do. So we really appeal to you, our partners, to come so that we move together and be able to eliminate cancer by 2030.
“We really appeal to you, our partners, to come so that we move together and be able to eliminate Cervical cancer by 2030. It’s possible if we come together and work together,” he said.
He also noted that the availability of DNA testing for the Human papillomavirus (HPV) is contingent on financing to be rolled out nationwide.
“Yesterday we listed only two centers which can do DNA testing that is Parirenyatwa and Chinhoyi. We are rolling out we would like to roll out a comprehensive program for elimination of of cervical cancer. And part and part of the program would involve the testing. DNA testing is a better method, but we are using other methods. So currently, for us to be able to do the most effective testing, which is the DNA, we need to invest more money in that.
“But that will come with time because at the moment the resources that we have, we cannot have the DNA testing throughout the whole country. The other issue that will affect us also is availability of personnel, trained personnel to be able to interpret those results.
“ So I cannot say we are rolling out that particular type of test, which is the DNA testing, as a test on its own. No. We are continuing with the processes that we are doing at the moment, but as we get more resources, we will then want to shift to the DNA testing.
“We are looking at using other equipment that have been used for DNA testing in HIV so that we integrate those tests together with HPV DNA testing. But still, as you know, we have not covered the whole country with the equipment that can do DNA testing for HIV. Therefore we are still a bit behind.,” he said.
According to the Global Cancer Observatory’s 2022 report, Zimbabwe’s cervical cancer incidence stands at 68.2 per 100,000 women, with a mortality rate of 47.9.
Each year, approximately 3,043 women in Zimbabwe are diagnosed with cervical cancer while tragically, around 1,976 women lose their lives to this disease annually.
