Category: NON COMMUNICABLE DISEASES

Zimbabwe Red Cross Society Offering Free Cervical and Breast Cancer Screening At Agric Show

Michael Gwarisa

The Zimbabwe Red Cross Society (ZRCS) in partnership with the Zimbabwe Agricultural Society (ZAS) is offering free screening for cervical and breast cancer throughout this year’s Agricultural show running from 29 August to 3 September. By Staff Reporter Zimbabwe has a high burden of cervical cancer. According to the Zimbabwe National Cancer Registry, this cancer leads among malignancies in women, and constitutes 33.2% of the cancer burden in this population. Cervical cancer despite its potential preventability and curability,  remains the most common cancer in Zimbabwe and  is responsible for most…

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Addressing Non-communicable diseases (diabetes) in Zimbabwe: Taking the bull by the horns

Healthtimes

According to the World Health Organisation (2021), noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are chronic conditions of long term duration caused by genetic, physiological, environmental and behavioural factors. The World Health Organisation (2021) estimates that NCDs account for 41 million deaths globally each year which is 71% of all deaths globally and of these 85% occur in low and middle-income countries including Zimbabwe. By Enock Musungwini This opinion piece focuses on diabetes as the NCD of interest particularly type 2 diabetes as it accounts for 92% of all diabetes cases globally. Diabetes is…

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BLH Zimbabwe: Patience and perseverance are the keys to success, despite the hardships

Healthtimes

  In early June Brave Little Hearts Zimbabwe participated in our National Youth Business Expo, as we are looking at establishing sustainable projects to help empower our communities to attain financial freedom. By Tendai Moyo This is so important because donors are hard to come by, and the financial burden of heart communities is so huge. Our target is to be self-sufficient by 2023 so we can meet every financial need, including surgeries, fees, medications, and hopefully, a community-owned heart centre. As much as we are awaiting government intervention, we…

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The Nexus between Childhood Cancer and the Environment

Michael Gwarisa

AS the month of February draws to an end, it’s highly likely that the hype and noise around childhood cancer will die down as the world shifts focus towards other health issues on the calendar of events. Under normal circumstances, this should not be the case and we probably need to dedicate 365 days of each year God grants us to raise awareness and talk about childhood or pediatric cancers. By Michael Gwarisa It is thus imperative to remind each other that childhood cancer is real and if not detected…

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Buffalo Creek Spur Announces Financial Support To Kidzcan

Michael Gwarisa

… Spur to donate US$0.50 to KidzCan for every dessert purchased    Buffalo Creek Spur, one of Simbisa’s sought brands has today announced a partnership with KidzCan that will see the Simbisa owned restaurant offering financial support to vulnerable children diagnosed and living with cancer. Under the partnership, Buffalo Creek Spur will donate USD0.50 to KidzCan for every dessert purchased at Spur outlets. Funds from the partnership will assist in providing chemotherapy drugs, radiological and laboratory tests among other services. Warren Meares, the managing director of Simbisa Brands said, “As…

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“The importance of counselling for parents post a childhood cancer death”

Healthtimes

AS we join the rest of the world in commemorating International Childhood Cancer Day; it is important to note that comprehensive palliative care is essential to the health and the well-being of children facing life-threatening illness especially cancer. The aim of palliative care is to improve the quality of life for the children and their families and minimise suffering by providing physical, psychological, spiritual and social care throughout the entire course of illness. Counselling and support are an integral part of palliative care. By Eunice Garanganga, Executive Director, HOSPAZ Parents…

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Childhood Cancers Stalk Zimbabwe As 67 Children Die in 12 Months

Michael Gwarisa

EVEN though survival rate for childhood cancers in developing countries is hovering above 80%, chances of children surviving following a cancer diagnosis in Zimbabwe remain below 20% due to a myriad of factors ranging from late presentation of cases and failure to access quality care and treatment on time. By Michael Gwarisa Some of the childhood cancers affecting children the most in Zimbabwe include Leukemia, Neuroblastoma, Rhabdomyosarcoma, Retinoblastoma among others. Due to existing gaps to accessing care, survival chances for children remain depressed. Speaking at the World Cancer Day commemorations…

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Together We Can Close The Cancer Care Gap Says Dr Chiwenga

Michael Gwarisa

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…

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Desperate Zim Cancer Patients Turn To Traditional Medicines and Herbal Therapists…As Gvt Radiotherapy Machines Breakdown

Michael Gwarisa

ACCESS to Radiotherapy treatment, a form of cancer treatment that uses high doses of radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors has of late become elusive, as many cancer patients are now being forced to seek treatment from traditional and herbal practitioners. By Michael Gwarisa Investigations by this publication indicate that at the moment, only one radiotherapy machine is working at oncocare in Newlands in Harare. The two radiotherapy machines at Mpilo have been down since 2021. Even though Parirenyatwa hospital has three radiotherapy machines, only one machine was…

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Many countries struggle to provide chemotherapy drugs to their children; St. Jude wants to change that

Healthtimes

Charity Kawadza is often the one to tell parents there are no chemotherapy drugs available for their children at Parirenyatwa General Hospital in Harare, Zimbabwe. None in the whole country. Kawadza is a nurse and the health promotions coordinator with KidzCan Zimbabwe, a non-governmental organization that supports the hospital’s ward for children suffering from cancer. “You know children are fighters,” she said. “They can actually survive cancer. … And now you are left with explaining to the parent — some parents will take it and understand, but other parents will…

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