The Sunday News
THE National Aids Council (NAC) has bought a breast cancer mammography machine for Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo, as the council scales up incorporation of cancer prevention and control activities in its HIV programming.
NAC communications officer Mrs Tadiwa Nyatanga-Pfupa told Sunday News last week that the mammography machine which was procured from the Netherlands will be handed over to Mpilo Central Hospital at a date yet to be announced.
The machine will see Mpilo now able to carry out early diagnosis and screening of breast cancer in women who may not be showing signs and symptoms of the disease. Early detection of breast cancer with screening mammography allows for treatment of the disease it before spreads.
Mrs Nyatanga-Pfupa said the procurement of the mammography machine was an expansion of NAC’s responsibility to support the fight against cancer, in light of an increased number of HIV related cancers in the country.NAC is member of the National Cancer partnership Forum, headed by the Ministry of Health and Child Care.
“NAC is aware that cancer is on the increase nationwide. In Zimbabwe about 60 percent of all the cancers are HIV related and because of this NAC has been pushed to start to be involved in activities related to cancer management, control and prevention. NAC has therefore been supporting the MOHCC with cancer medications and procurement of the Breast Cancer Mammography is an expansion of that responsibility,” she said.
Added Mrs Nyatanga-Pfupa, “High on the National Aids Council’s agenda is the incorporation of cancer prevention and control activities in its planning. This will be in line with the national policies, guidelines and strategies on cancer control and prevention. NAC will also assist in the decentralisation of treatment and prevention services of HIV related cancers”.
She said NAC had also embarked on an expansion drive for cervical cancer screening among HIV positive women at most Opportunistic Infections Clinics in the country with the support from its strategic partners.
Zimbabwe recently held belated World Cancer Day Commemorations at Dema Growth Point, Mashonaland East, where Minister of Health and Child Care, Dr David Parirenyatwa revealed that, worldwide, in 2012 there were 14,2 million new cancer cases reported and 8,2 million deaths. About half of the cases were between the age of 30-70 years, which is the most productive age group. Estimates indicate 10 000 new cases of cancer are recorded in Zimbabwe every year.
Data from Zimbabwe National Cancer Registry (ZNCR), shows a marked increase in new cancer cases between 2009 and 2012. About 3 519 new cases were recorded in 2009 and in 2012 there were 6 107 new cases recorded marking a
73,5 percent increase. Deaths due to cancer also increased from 1 029 in 2009 to 1 556 in 2012.
Statistics indicate that the majority of Zimbabweans diagnosed with cancer will die of the disease if no treatment is availed early. The most common cancers in Zimbabwe are Kaposi’s Sarcoma, prostate cancer, oesophageal and liver cancers among men, and cervical cancer, Kaposi’s Sarcoma, breast and oesophageal cancers among women.
