Kuda Pembere
With the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) nearing its end this year, 22,271 women were screened for cervical cancer under its health pillar. This was revealed by Information, Media and Broadcasting Services Minister Honourable Jenfan Muswere during a post-Cabinet media briefing on Tuesday.
Cervical cancer remains a major public health challenge in Zimbabwe, ranking as the fourth most common cancer both globally and regionally. Each year, around 3,043 women in the country are diagnosed with the disease, and approximately 1,976 die from it.
Zimbabwe is among the countries with the highest burden, with six women reportedly dying from cervical cancer every day.
Recognising the heavy toll of the disease, the Government, through the Ministry of Health and Child Care, has been expanding screening services across the country, including in remote areas.
Efforts to combat cervical cancer include HPV vaccination and screening programmes. However, access and public awareness remain significant challenges, especially in rural communities.
A total of 22,271 women were screened for cervical cancer. Of the women screened, 1,435 tested positive and 583 were treated,” said Hon Muswere.
Although Zimbabwe has introduced cervical cancer screening programmes, access remains limited and uneven. As of 2019, just 20 percent of the population had access to screening services, with urban areas recording a particularly low rate of 3 percent and rural areas only slightly higher at 10 percent.
In 2018, WHO adopted a global strategy to eliminate cervical cancer. This ambitious plan aims to achieve several key goals by 2030: vaccinating 90 percent of girls by age 15, ensuring 70percent of women receive high-performance screening tests at 35 and 45 years old, and treating 90% of women diagnosed with precancer or cervical disease.
Additionally, 90 percent of women with invasive cancer will receive management by 2030.
WHO is actively supporting Zimbabwe with technical expertise to help the country reach these critical targets.
