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The Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (POTRAZ) today partnered with the Cancer Association of Zimbabwe and Kidzcan to contribute to cancer awareness among staff, community members, and the nation at large by engaging in a 5km power walk as a way of belatedly commemorating World Cancer Day and World Child Cancer Day, which were held on the 4th and 15th of February 2022, respectively.
In a speech, she read on behalf of POTRAZ Director-General, Dr. Gift Machengete, Hilda Mutseyekwa, the POTRAZ Head of Economics, Tariffs and Competition alluded to an increase in cancer cases globally, highlighting that a new case of cancer is diagnosed in the world every 9 seconds, according to the World Health Organisation.
“Children too are not spared from this menacing disease as according to the World Health Organisation, a child is diagnosed with cancer every 3 minutes. This is truly disheartening.
“In Zimbabwe, I am informed, 250 children succumb to cancer each year and that figure is tenfold in adults. This is a grave cause for concern and we surely need to turn these alarming statistics around. We can only achieve this if we all put our hands on the deck.
“On our part and in our small way, POTRAZ has found it befitting to contribute to cancer awareness among staff, community members, and the nation at large by engaging in a 5km power walk as a way of belatedly commemorating World Cancer Day and World Child Cancer Day, which were held on the 4th and 15th of February 2022, respectively,” she said.
Mutseyekwa said cancer is no longer just the responsibility of the health sector, cancer associations, or the media, hence the need for collaboration across all sectors in raising awareness about the various types of cancer.
“Awareness is the central mantra by which cancer can be effectively fought. This is because, while we encourage early detection of cancer as a way of saving lives, without awareness of this, then the cause is lost. Without awareness about the common causes of cancer, without awareness about the common symptoms of cancer, without awareness about where to find treatment, people would continue developing cancers, getting diagnosed late, and accessing treatment late, if at all.”
A cancer diagnosis does not only affect the patient, it also affects families, friends, colleagues, and even organisations – in fact, everyone and everything near the patient is caught up in that horrendous wave. Cancer does not distinguish between religions or race, sex or age, and that is why we all need to join forces, to make a difference, especially if one looks at the stark numbers looming in the future which suggest cancer cases will double world over by 2035.
Mutseyekwa said while there are screening programs for cervical and breast cancer which have changed the realities of these diseases, leading to much better survival outcomes, most cancers go undetected until they have reached untreatable stages. This usually affects people in remote rural areas who do not have access to information and easy access to treatment.
As the ICT Regulator, POTRAZ revealed that it has set up community information centres in rural areas and this program is ongoing. Such centres could be utilised to access critical health information such as information about cancer. The Authority is also working closely with the Ministry of Health on e-health projects, which may also go a long way in promoting the early detection of cancer. Maximising the potential of e-health would help reduce inequalities in health delivery. This would see rural communities receiving treatment against cancer and other diseases faster, in line with Government’s vision of not leaving anyone behind.
On his part, Gift Marunda the Finance and Administration Manager for Kidzcan Zimbabwe said that his organisation took part in a Power walk organised by POTRAZ as part of raising awareness on cancers in general and childhood cancers in particular.
“Kidzcan Zimbabwe appreciates the role that POTRAZ has played in raising awareness on childhood cancers in Zimbabwe. Kidzcan appreciates the contribution of the POTRAZ staff who participated in this 5km walk. Childhood cancer prevalence in Zimbabwe has been rising exponentially, and due to lack of awareness, the affected children have been presenting late for treatment which then compromises on the treatment outcomes thus POTRAZ support in raising awareness is critical in ensuring early detection and referral.
“Kidzcan is a non-governmental organization that provides diagnostics, chemotherapy drugs, bus fares, and psychosocial support amongst other critical interventions in the pediatric cancer continuum of care. We urge individuals and corporates to assist in raising awareness and supporting the efforts of the Ministry of Health and Child Care and Kidzcan. We are excited about the fact that Zimbabwe is part of the Global Initiative on Childhood Cancers whose thrust is to ensure an increase in survival rate to 60 percent by 2030 from the current average of 20 percent in low developing countries. With the support of entities such as POTRAZ, this goal will be realised,” Marunda said.
Lovemore Makurirofa, the Information, Research, and Evaluation Officer of the Cancer Association of Zimbabwe said the cancer walk is important in that it helps in the fight against cancer by spreading the message on early detection of cancer.
“It also shows the commitment of POTRAZ to reducing the national Cancer burden. Childhood and adult cancers are on the increase in Zimbabwe, hence the walk is very significant in helping to share cancer information. The World Cancer Day theme for 2022 is “Closing the Cancer care gap” and the walk shows the need to unite in achieving this.
“The donation of airtime by POTRAZ is important to the Cancer Association of Zimbabwe in that it will enable us to improve the provision of telephone counselling to patients, especially during this COVID 19 period, and also make a follow-up of patients. We encourage companies to emulate this and participate annually in cancer-related commemorations,” Makurirofa said.