TellZim Reporter
Gweru- Global health institutions and communities under the leadership of the International Union for Cancer Control (UICC) have made it a tradition where they come together every year on February 4 to mark the World Cancer Day.
This year’s campaign is focused on uniting voices to act on cancer and close the care gap while the theme corresponds with the principle of the integrated approach to Non Communicable Diseases care.
Non Communicable Diseases Zimbabwe Network director Jacob Ngwenya highlighted that people with chronic illnesses could stand and fight together against common risks.
“People with cancer and other chronic conditions can stand up together against common risks like tobacco, alcohol and unhealthy diets, for better prevention. People with lived experiences can fight together for better care for multiple NCDs.
“As a person with multiple NCDs, I know how important it is to have support and medical care to get back to good health and I want this journey to be one that is less painful and more meaningful for people like me,” said Ngwenya.
Ngwenya also made a call to people with cancer and other chronic diseases to come together and amplify their voices in calling for the closing of the care gap.
“Non-communicable voices must call for NCDs prevention, treatment and care services to be readily available for everyone who needs them in Zimbabwe regardless of age, ethnicity, religion or financial status.
“Poverty mustn’t be a barrier for people with NCDs in accessing the much needed treatment, care and support. Cancer prevention must be at the core of NCDs response in Zimbabwe which through the Ministry of Health and Child Care has done extremely well in putting a cancer policy in place which we expect to be implemented to the last dot. It is very much cheaper to prevent than to treat a cancer from personal level to the country level,” Ngwenya said.
He also pointed out that some families have been driven to a vicious cycle of poverty due to NCDs like cancer compounded with the outrageous medical expenses attached to them.
