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Rutendo Ngara, Chronicle Reporter

THE Zimbabwe Medical Association (Zima) and the Surgical Society of Zimbabwe (SSZ) have applauded the move by the International Forum on Breast Cancer Surgery to partner with the United Bulawayo Hospitals (UBH) to train nurses to specialise in early diagnosis of breast cancer.

Speaking at the Needs Assessment Project at UBH on Friday, Zima national president Dr Francis Chiwora said Zimbabwe has a deficit of specialists in breast cancer diagnosis.

“The partnership is very critical. We do not have enough breast cancer specialists in the country. Matabeleland has only one radiologist, two oncologists and two pathologists. In a resource strained area like ours, breast cancer patients get to see a doctor when the disease is at an advanced stage. This is because of the shortage of trained personnel who can diagnose the disease at an early stage,” he said.

SSZ representative, Dr Garikai Mwale said, breast cancer needs an early diagnosis so that it can be cured.

“Due to financial constraints, many people cannot afford to pay for screening. We have to conduct awareness campaigns because most people do not know much about breast cancer. For example, chemotherapy in our native language they call it ukutshiswa\kupiswa, many people are therefore afraid of the treatment. With this partnership, we hope to see a big change in breast cancer screening and diagnosis in Zimbabwe, especially Matabeleland,” said Dr Mwale. 

 Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Medical Aid Society of Central Africa (MASCA) Mr Douglas Bramsen said the private-public partnership will benefit Matabeleland women especially those who do not have normal access to screening.—@missngara.