By Kuda Pembere
Zimbabwe, which in past years recorded more than 3,000 cervical cancer cases annually, saw the figure decline to 1,354 in 2024, with Harare carrying the heaviest burden.
The decline comes at a time when partners in the cancer response are calling for the rapid decentralisation of screening services across the country.
According to the 2024 Environmental Statistics Human Settlement and Environmental Health Report by ZimStat, citing Ministry of Health and Child Care data, Harare accounted for 935 cases, representing 69 percent of the national total. Bulawayo followed with 91 cases, while Masvingo and Matabeleland South each recorded 75.
Other provinces recorded significantly lower numbers, with Mashonaland West at 48 cases, Mashonaland Central 34, and Midlands 39. Matabeleland North did not record any cervical cancer cases during the year.
Lovemore Makurirofa, Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator at CAZ, in an interview said screening is critical because cervical cancer develops slowly, often over 15 years.
“If women access screening for cervical cancer, that progression from abnormal cells to stage 1 cancer can actually be reversed through simple treatment methods such as coagulation or cryotherapy. And these simple treatment methods are available in Zimbabwe. So it is very important that women go for screening,” he said.
Makurirofa added that ignorance remains a barrier, with many women reluctant to be screened, highlighting the need for intensified awareness campaigns.
“If all women access screening services, as a nation, we can actually reduce cervical cancer cases,” he said.
While Government has decentralised screening to district hospitals, he noted that women in rural areas often struggle to raise transport fares to access services.
“According to the Zimbabwe National Cancer Registry, cervical cancer is the most common cancer among Black women in Zimbabwe, constituting around 40.1 percent of all cancer cases in this group. On its own, cervical cancer makes up nearly a third of the national cancer burden. By encouraging screening, we can actually reduce this national burden,” Makurirofa said.
He urged that screening services be extended beyond district hospitals to remote areas through mobile teams, and that education campaigns counter misconceptions.
“A lot of women think that cervical cancer screening is for elderly women only, which is not true. All women are eligible for screening, and younger women, who may be at higher risk, should also access services. Another misconception is that screening is only necessary when there are symptoms, which is also false. Eligible women are those without signs and symptoms. They just need to walk into a screening centre and be screened,” he explained.
Makurirofa also stressed the importance of comprehensive prevention, in line with World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines.
“There is primary prevention through HPV vaccination for girls and boys, secondary prevention through screening and treatment of abnormal cells before they become cancerous, and tertiary care for those who already have cancer. That comprehensive cervical cancer intervention is what we recommend as the Cancer Association of Zimbabwe,” he said.
