HARARE-Acting President, Dr Constantino Chiwenga has acknowledged the existing challenges in the country’s cancer care management systems and called on all stakeholders to unite in closing the existing gaps in cancer management.
By Michael Gwarisa
Zimbabwe is currently experiencing operational challenges with regards to cancer care amidst high costs of chemotherapy drugs and recurring breakdowns of Radiotherapy machines in the country’s major cancer care centers, Parirenyatwa Hospital and Mpilo Hospital.
Speaking during the 2022 World Cancer Day commemoration in Harare, Dr Chiwenga said the health ministry was working on setting up structures and implementing programs that ensure the mortality and morbidity of cancer is addressed.
According to the Zimbabwe Cancer Registry of 2018, the total number of new cancer cases recorded among Zimbabweans of all races was 7 564. Approximately four out of 10 persons diagnosed with cancer in Harare, Chitungwiza and Bulawayo in 2017 succumbed to the disease.
“In developing countries, which include Zimbabwe, eight out of 10 children diagnosed with cancer die compared to two out of the 10 in the developed countries. Zimbabwe has put in place various initiatives to close the care gap to reduce inequality in access to cancer services in line with the Union for International Caner Control,” said Dr Chiwenga.
Some of the initiatives that have been adopted include the local training of Oncologists, Oncology nurses and Epidemiologists in Zimbabwe at the Parirenyatwa School of Nursing and College of Health Science to equip healthcare professional with skills and knowledge to provide cancer services. Zimbabwe also commenced a mass immunization program for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) targeting girls aged between 10 and 14 years which protects against development of Cervical Cancer which is a country specific cancer prevention program. In 2019, coverage for HPV vaccination was reported to be 91% for the first dose and 67% for the second dose.
“Screening programs for cervical cancer up to district health facility and HPV DNA testing to ensure early detection of cervical cancer and ensuring that we save lives and minimize resources required to treat advanced disease by preventing late presentation for care.”
Zimbabwe has also set aside a specific budget for the treatment of Breast Cancer, Cervical Cancer, Prostate Cancer and HPV vaccination for girls aged 10 to 14 years to prevent cervical cancer.
Delivering the World Health Organisation (WHO) African region’s director, Dr Matshidiso Moeti’s message, WHO Zimbabwe Representative, Dr Alex Gasasira said there was need for African governments to make huge investments towards cancer management and care in order to close the care gap.
“I would like to appreciate the Ministry of health and child care for always putting people at the centre of commemorative events such as the one we are celebrating today because their messages bring hope and most important take home for us as we collectively try to improve the health and health delivery in Zimbabwe.
“Today I also bring you warm greetings from Dr Moeti, the regional director of the World Health Organisation in the Africa regional who has one message for all member states in our region to make the necessary investment required to ensure that all citizens no matter their income or geographical local can have access to quality cancer care. Every year in Africa, 1.1 million new cases of cancer are diagnosed and 700 000 people lose their lives to cancer,” said Dr Gasasira.
Some of the leading caners according to Dr Gasasira include cervical cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, Colo-rectal cancers. Of the more than 400 000 children diagnosed with cancer annually around the world, around 90% live in low and middle income countries.
Meanwhile, Dr Dobby, the Chief Director Preventive Services in the Ministry of Health and Child Care said despite the increased cancer burden in the world, there was light at the end of tunnel as cancer is preventable and can be cured.
“NCDs kill 41 million people every year equivalent to 71% of all deaths globally. Each year, more than 15 million people die from NCDs between the ages of 30 and 69 years. 85% of these premature deaths occur in low and middle income countries. In Zimbabwe, NCDs and injury now account for about 45% of these disease burden Cardiovascular disease account for most of these NCDs, about 17.9 million, followed by cancers, 9.3 million, respiratory diseases 4.1 million, diabetes 1.5 million,” said Dr Dobby.
These four groups of diseases account for over 80% of all premature NCDs. Tobacco use, physical inactivity, the harmful use of alcohol and unhealthy diets all increase the risk of dying from NCDs.
