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Thandeka Moyo, Health Reporter
GOVERNMENT has set aside $2,6 million to fight non-communicable diseases including cancer which have over the past years overtaken HIV as the world’s leading killer diseases.

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) include heart and lung diseases, cancer and diabetes, among others.

In his 2018 budget statement, Finance and Economic Development Minister Patrick Chinamasa said government was working on early detection of the diseases.

“Key strategies to address Non-communicable diseases, inclusive of cancers, will embrace strengthening primary prevention activities, early detection, diagnosis and treatment as well as palliative care and rehabilitation. Accordingly, the 2018 Budget proposes to appropriate US$2.6 million for the purpose,” he said.

Cde Chinamasa said efforts will be pursued to reduce incidencies of malaria and new infections of HIV and TB related illnesses and deaths.

Cancer Association of Zimbabwe information, research and evaluation officer Mr Lovemore Makurirofa recently said according to statistics from the National Cancer Registry, there are 5 000 new cases every year.

The statistics from 2014 showed that 2 474 people died, while an additional 7 018 new cases were recorded.

Mr Makurirofa said these figures only related to cases that were recorded in health institutions, but most patients could be dying from home as they fail to access health services owing to prohibitive costs.

Health and Child Care Secretary Dr Gerald Gwinji also said recently the burden of cancer was increasing in the country while that of other diseases such as HIV was going down.

He said reduced cases of HIV were attributable to availability of antiretroviral drugs.

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) reproductive health specialist, Dr Edwin Mapeta, said the prevalence of cervical cancer was worrying.

He said four women die of cervical cancer in Zimbabwe daily amid reports that the disease burden has been worsened by the high HIV prevalence rate.

“Four women in Zimbabwe die daily due to cervical cancer and what worries us is that despite the numerous cancer screening institutions that the Government has set, only about 13 percent of women at risk have bothered to go for screening,” said Dr Mapeta.

@thamamoe