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Manicaland Correspondent
Government should expedite the decentralisation of cancer screening and treatment to enhance accessibility of the services to men and communities, the Ministry of Health and Child Care has said. Speaking at a provincial development review meeting for Government ministries recently, Manicaland provincial medical director Dr Patron Mafaune emphasised the need to extend awareness, screening and treatment of cancer to men and the rural population if the fight against cancer was to be effective.

“Decentralisation will enhance accessibility of the services to vulnerable communities, facilitate early diagnosis and treatment and help reduce cancer-related deaths,” she said.

Dr Mafaune highlighted the need for the provision of information, services and facilities to grassroot communities.
“The Ministry of Health has realised that though screening of women for cancer is being done, treatment still remains inaccessible and the rural population still remains marginalised, as most screening and treatment is still predominantly in urban areas,” she said.

Provincial administrator Mr Edgar Seenza highlighted how cancer awareness campaigns were marginalising men, as emphasis was being placed on cancer types that affected women.

“There is need by relevant authorities to be inclusive towards men; issues of prostate cancer are being neglected and the relevant ministry should mobilise resources and disseminate information and services towards combating cancers that affect men,” said Mr Seenza.

He challenged Government to decentralise and subsidise cancer treatment to cushion the poor and help address socio-economic and geographic inequities and inequalities hampering access to cancer treatment services.
According to Mr Seenza, there is need to enhance accessibility and affordability of cancer treatment, as cancer services were very expensive.

“A lot has been done in relation to cancer awareness, but treatment still remains inaccessible, as most cancer patients travel long distances from referral centres to receive treatment at central hospitals,” he said.
Mr Seenza cited funding as the most prohibitive factor for the decentralisation programme.

“Funding for cancer response still remains inadequate – delaying diagnosis, treatment and management of the disease,” he said.
The inaccessibility and unaffordability of cancer treatment, he said, was still forcing the majority of cancer patients to turn to other options outside medical care.

“Most people resort to alternative medicine that includes traditional (medicine) and at times this worsens their condition,” said Mr Seenza.

He said in order for decentralisation to work, funding was important in formulating cancer prevention programmes and treatment, especially in rural areas where the majority are poor.