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From Paidamoyo Chipunza in Chinhoyi
OVER 50 percent of patients with advanced cancer in Mashonaland West Province are failing to access palliative treatment, Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital medical superintendent Dr Collett Mawire, has said.

This comes in the wake of pleas by First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa during her national cancer awareness campaigns, for Government to subsidise treatment of advanced cancers to enable access by people suffering from the disease.

In an interview on the sidelines of the First Lady’s campaign in Mashonaland West held at Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital last week, Dr Mawire said since April 2013 when the hospital started screening for cervical cancer, about 9 000 cases were  screened.

He said of those screened, 598 had early signs of cervical cancer, while 378 were suspected to have cancer. Dr Mawire said from those who showed early signs of cancer, 56 percent were managed at the clinic. He said those with advanced cancer were recommended for advanced treatment using chemoradiotherapy.

“More than 50 percent failed to undergo chemoradiotherapy,” said Dr Mawire. “We found out that more than 50 percent of those found to be advanced and requiring palliative treatment such as chemoradiotherapy do not go for the treatment because either they cannot afford or the waiting list is too long.”

Dr Mawire attributed failure by the patients to access treatment to myths surrounding cancer treatment. He said some were afraid of chemoradiotherapy, while others believed that the process increased one’s chances of dying early.

Dr Mawire said the Chinhoyi Provincial Hospital cancer screening centre was also offering HIV and Aids testing to cancer patients.

“The hospital is also offering provider initiated testing and counselling services to women present for cervical cancer screening and we have made achievements in terms of HIV diagnosis in these women early and initiating them on treatment early,” he said.

According to statistics, 60 percent of cancer patients in Zimbabwe are HIV positive. National Aids Council national care and support coordinator Mrs Caroline Sirewu said leading types of cancers in HIV positive people were Kaposi sarcoma, cervical cancer and non-hodgkin lymphona.

“NAC realised the link between treatable HIV disease and increased morbidity and mortality from NCDs that include cancer and, therefore, has joined other organisations in supporting the Ministry of Health and Child Care in fighting the cancer problem,” said Mrs Sirewu.

She said this relationship led NAC to intensify cervical cancer screening in opportunistic infections clinics and procurement of anti-cancer drugs.