By Kuda Pembere
Zimbabwe launched its Childhood Cancer Treatment Guidelines on Friday, strengthening the country’s efforts to combat childhood cancers through early diagnosis and improved treatment.
The launch, which coincided with International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD) commemorations at Kidzcan’s Rainbow Village, comes at a time when children with cancer in Zimbabwe have only a 20 percent survival rate—well below the World Health Organization (WHO) 2030 target of 60 percent.
Officiating at the event, Mr. Lee Nkala, Acting Director for the Non-Communicable Diseases Department, spoke on behalf of the Health and Child Care Permanent Secretary, Dr. Aspect Maunganidze.
We are inspired to act now, and I see this commitment reflected in the unity of all stakeholders and partners. As we mark this important day, many of us are clad in orange in solidarity with the affected children,” said Mr. Nkala.
“Today provides a platform to educate the public on the impact of childhood cancer on families while also exploring support networks for those affected. This collaboration between the government, the ministry, and families highlights the crucial role of all stakeholders—particularly family institutions—in the prevention, care, management, and education surrounding childhood cancers,” he added.
Dr. Maunganidze noted that ICCD is now structured into a three-year campaign cycle (2024–2026), aiming to address the challenges faced by childhood cancer patients, caregivers, and healthcare professionals.
He also announced that the National Cancer Control Plan has been finalized and is awaiting its official launch.
“I am pleased to share that our National Cancer Control Plan is now in place and awaiting launch. Another key concern for the government is the human resource factor. We acknowledge that the economic environment has led to some frustrations, but we are actively working on a human resource combat strategy to reverse losses and introduce incentives to retain healthcare workers. This strategy will help curb manpower losses and ensure our staff is properly motivated, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes,” Dr. Maunganidze explained.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Precious Andifasi from the WHO Zimbabwe office emphasized the need for Zimbabwe to enhance access to quality healthcare services, universal health coverage, and the integration of childhood cancer treatment into the national healthcare system.
She also stressed the importance of optimizing treatment protocols.
“We are honored to be part of this milestone in our collective efforts to address the devastating impact of cancer on children and adolescents in Zimbabwe. The launch of these guidelines—the Zimbabwe National Pediatric Oncology Guidelines—marks a significant step forward. Cancer care, like many other diseases, exposes the inequities and inequalities in our societies. The impact on children is particularly profound and often devastating,” said Dr. Andifasi.
Dr. Loice Hlatshwayo, Zimbabwe’s focal person for the Global Childhood Cancer Initiative (GCCI), pointed out that late diagnosis is one of the leading factors behind Zimbabwe’s low childhood cancer survival rates.
“In low- and middle-income countries like Zimbabwe, only 20 percent of children with cancer survive. This poor outcome is due to several factors, including late diagnosis, limited access to essential medicines, and treatment abandonment caused by financial and social challenges. Strengthening early and accurate diagnosis, followed by effective treatment, is key to reducing premature childhood cancer deaths. In high-income countries, survival rates reach up to 80 percent—so there is hope,” she said.
KidzCan Executive Director Daniel Mackenzie highlighted that this year’s ICCD theme, “Finding Solutions and Taking Action,” calls for decisive measures.
“This theme urges us not just to reflect but to step forward with bold and decisive action. Childhood cancer is a challenge that demands a collective response. Every year, far too many children in Zimbabwe and across the world face a battle for survival—a battle they should not have to fight alone. Yet, with early detection, timely treatment, and a strong healthcare system, many young lives can be saved. Today, we take a significant step by launching national guidelines for the six index childhood cancers—a milestone in ensuring every child, regardless of background, has access to quality diagnosis and treatment,” he said.
According to the Zimbabwe National Cancer Registry, in 2019, Zimbabwe recorded 263 pediatric cancer cases among children aged 0 to 14, accounting for 3.7 percent of all cancers that year. The five most common childhood cancers were Leukemia (18%), Renal tumors (13%), Lymphomas (13%), Retinoblastoma (6%) and Central nervous system tumors (10%).
