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Ellina Mhlanga Sports Reporter
BELVEDERE Medical Centre have partnered the Mighty Warriors in a cervical cancer awareness campaign that will see the players being screened for cancer. The Mighty Warriors, who have been named as the cervical cancer ambassadors by the medical centre, had a march from the HICC to BMC premises yesterday where they were offered the opportunity to go through the screening process.

The function was graced by Sport, Arts and Culture Deputy Minister Tabetha Kanengoni-Malinga, who hailed BMC for their efforts to support women’s football as well as promoting awareness for cervical cancer.

“I feel greatly humbled to officiate at this occasion of the cervical cancer awareness campaign being hosted by BMC in collaboration with our senior women’s football team, the Mighty Warriors,” said Kanengoni-Malinga.

“I am really happy that the Mighty Warriors are here to promote this because the Mighty Warriors have been named as the ambassadors of cervical cancer.
“So what does it mean to be an ambassador, it’s not about just coming here today doing the march, wearing a T-shirt, getting tested for free and going home and forgetting about it.

“You must find knowledge about it so that you can teach other women about cervical cancer, how to get treated and you must do this within the boundaries of Zimbabwe and when you travel outside Zimbabwe.

“That’s what an ambassador does. You are going to be representing issues to do with cervical cancer.”
Kanengoni-Malinga also urged BMC to extend their support beyond the campaign as the Mighty Warriors are in need of support to carry out their national duty of representing the country in different competitions.

“Well I had that you have partnered women’s football, I haven’t seen the contract yet but I want to encourage you not to just use the Mighty Warriors to market your brand here at BMC but to go further and market them in sport as well,” Kanengoni-Malinga added.

Clinical director for BMC, Simba Makuni, said they believe the Mighty Warriors will help demystify the stigmatisation that comes with the disease since they are role models for the community.

“They are going to be screened, they have expressed interest and it will be ongoing until they are all done but they have volunteered. We think that actually sport sometimes transcend boundaries more than anything else.”