MoH commissions cancer-screening centres in Chipata, Katete

MoH commissions cancer-screening centres in Chipata, Katete
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Sun 05 Feb. 2012, 13:01 CAT

HEALTH minister Dr Joseph Kasonde says there is need to strengthen laws that prohibit tobacco use, especially in public places. And the Ministry of Health has commissioned two cancer screening equipment at Chipata General Hospital and St Francis Mission Hospital in Katete.

Meanwhile, a person living with cancer Amy Sikazwe says there are a lot of myths surrounding cancer diseases in society. Officiating at the World Cancer Day commemoration in Chipata yesterday, Dr Kasonde said there was special effort that was being made to stop those that smoke in public.

"By smoking in public, make it necessary for those that are innocently present in that public to seek medical attention...Control of alcohol consumption is something again that belongs to us as individuals. The government shall endevour to promote healthy lifestyles and regular exercises," Dr Kasonde said.

He said the role of government, particularly his ministry, was to create an enabling environment for public awareness on cancer through public health programmes and community sensitisation.

Dr Kasonde said his ministry would promote a focused and integrated approach to disease prevention so that it does not only focus on infections but also remember the increasing rise of cancer.

He urged the general public to take interest in cancer by promoting healthy lifestyles for prevention of the disease and regular screening.

"In this case I am pleased to say that we have had a team here and in the last few days there has been a screening exercise provided by a team of cancer experts. They saw 883 people...Those checked for breast cancer were 459, those for cervix were 387 and those for prostate were 27. Those that have been diagnosed and assisted in getting treatment were 38 out of the 883 which is about four per cent," said Dr Kasonde.

And Sikazwe, who gave a background on how she was diagnosed with cancer, said they were a lot of myths about the disease in society today.

She said one of the myths was that those that are diagnosed with cancer would die from the disease.

Sikazwe said some people think that cancer was contagious.

"They are a lot of stories about cancer. People end up going to witchdoctors, people end up going to wrong places to look for medicines when they are actually delaying. What is critical is if cancer is discovered early, if it is diagnosed early it can be treated like you see me here and you can get well so we should not delay by going kumang'anga (witchdoctors)…," said Sikazwe.

And briefing the press on Thursday ahead of the World Cancer Day commemorations that fell yesterday, acting Eastern Province medical officer Dr Francis Bwalya said the two centres would be used to screen people for various cancers.

"The minister Dr Kasonde is going to commission this equipment that has been procured by the ministry with assistance or in partnership with Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia and this equipment is going to be installed at Chipata General and St Francis Mission Hospital," he said.