Tinaani Nyabereka
Gweru-Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe (EFZ) last week embarked on collaborative breast cancer and service delivery awareness campaign to engage communities on the two issues.
The campaign was held as part of efforts to sensitize community of the dangers of breast cancer as well as ways to reduce cancer related deaths.
Speaking during the engagement, Midlands Environmental Health Officer Tinatse Mudzingwa said as the Ministry of Health, the purpose of coming with such an initiative was to help and educate the community on breast cancer.
She added that men are supposed to join in the fight by supporting women.
“We need a situation whereby the church works hand in hand with the Ministry of Health and Child Care on improving the health of our people because it has a huge following. Usually we encourage the church to lead us so that we change the mind-set which some of our community members have towards receiving treatment.
“The moment a person especially a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer, we then put her under palliative care so that we provide special treatment and care for them not to feel neglected as being diagnosed cancer doesn’t mean it’s the end of the world. Palliative care simply means an interdisciplinary medical caregiving approach aimed at optimizing quality of life and mitigating suffering among people with serious, complex, and often terminal illnesses.
“We don’t want a situation where one is diagnosed with cancer and she becomes sick up to the extent that she will begin to worry and die, leaving kids without a parent,” she said.
She added that if a person feels that she exhibits symptoms of cancer, she must quickly visit any nearest health centre for assistance.
“If you feel that you have some signs or symptoms which are pointing out to the development of breast cancer, we advise you to quickly visit the nearest hospital for further examinations.
“More so let’s take cognisance of the foods or diets we consume, we are always required to eat rich nutritional foods which build our bodies. Take note of your diet and always eat well because some of the food stuff we consume is not good for our body,” she added.
Gweru ward 8 councillor Notai Dzikai said as the church was playing a pivotal role in promoting awareness on breast cancer, it was also important for the community to be aware that good service provision is key to good health.
“It is important for you to be well informed as an informed citizen is a better citizen. The church has a bigger role to play in terms of empowering the community.
“We need services which are good as a people. For us to fight diseases like breast cancer, we also need facilities and medical equipment which can then address our patients’ needs.
“As council, we are committed towards providing health care to our residents, but we also need you to play your part by paying your bills so that there improved service provision in our city.
“We therefore urge citizens to come and participate in the upcoming budget consultations which are set to start soon. Your input in this budget is important because without it, we cannot table the budget which speaks to our needs as residents,” Dzikai said.
EFZ Midlands Provincial Chairperson Pastor Langton Mazuka said the church was doing its best in engaging the community.
“We are happy as a church to be raising awareness on the breast cancer issue. EFZ being under Zimbabwe Heads of Christians Denominations (ZHCOD) is working with other stakeholders in achieving the same goal.
“That role is to strengthen the church in promoting citizen participation in devolution. As the church, we will continue to preach unity and participation of the community in development,” said Mazuka.
