Story by Peter Chivhima
HEALTH experts and community leaders have urged Zimbabweans to adopt regular health check-ups and early screening practices as the country continues to record rising cases of cancer.
The call was made during a cancer awareness and screening campaign held at a local school in Harare this Friday, a reflection of growing national efforts to promote health-seeking behaviour and early detection.
The event, organised in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Child Care, KidzCan Zimbabwe, and private health professionals, provided free cancer screening and counselling services to the community.
KidzCan Health and Awareness Coordinator, Mrs Charity Kawadza, said community mobilisation and awareness are key to reducing cancer-related deaths.
“We are here in solidarity with the nation in the fight against cancer. Our presence here is significant because cancer is claiming several lives. It also allows us to raise awareness. We at KidzCan are calling for people to work together in the fight against the scourge. We are saying let us go and get screened early,” KidzCan’s Health and Awareness Coordinator, Mrs Charity Kawadza said.
“We are working together with officials from the Ministry of Health and Child Care, KidzCan, and private health professionals to provide cancer services to the community. This is part of our corporate social responsibility. We have observed that many people are in need of these services. So far, we are pleased to have met our target, and the community is equally happy to access these services for free,” Organiser of the cancer awareness programme Mrs Salome Mutsinze noted.
The government has introduced a multi-pronged approach that includes the procurement of modern diagnostic and treatment machines, provision of free cancer care, and strategic plans to decentralise these critical services beyond Harare and Bulawayo.
