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Locadia Mavhudzi Midlands Correspondent
The Cervical Cancer Screening Campaign spearheaded by First Lady Auxilia Mnangagwa has received overwhelming support, as 2 016 women have so far been screened in Gweru District during the first quarter of the year, The Herald has learnt.

Speaking during a District Aids Network meeting, Gweru District Nursing Officer, Sister Teresia Shumba said there had been a sharp increase in the number of women seeking cancer screening services at Gweru General Hospital owing to the national campaign.
“We have so far screened 2 016 women since the beginning of the year in Gweru,” she said.

“We are still receiving more inquiries as women are now aware of cervical cancer.”
Sister Shumba said they integrated HIV and cancer services so that patients could access holistic healthcare services at a particular health centres, as the Ministry of Health and Child Care sought to provide broader health prevention and treatment services.

“HIV testing services and cancer screening have been integrated such that when one visits the hospital, you can access all services under one roof,” she said.
“You will realise that most cancer cases are HIV-related.”
Sister Shumba said the ministry would be rolling out a Human Pappiloma Virus Campaign in schools in May, targeting to vaccinate children between 9 and 14 years.

“Our ministry will be conducting an HPV campaign from May the 14th to the 18th and we will be going around all schools to vaccinate girls between 9 and 14 years,” she said.
Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cancer among women accounting for approximately half a million new cases per year globally and is a major cause of death.