Government committed to fight cancer

Kitwe District Commissioner Elias Kamanga has retaliated the Patriotic Front government’s commitment in fighting all forms of Cancer.

Mr Kamanga said government has stepped up Cancer awareness programmes apart from spreading out Cancer support facilities from Lusaka to enable people access Cancer support services.

Speaking During the World Cancer Day Commemorations in Kitwe today, Mr Kamanga observed that most Cancer deaths in the country could have been avoided if the victims were aware of the disease and had received early treatment.

The District Commissioner also commended First Lady Dr Christine Kaseba for her tireless efforts in fighting Cancer.

He further commended cooperating partners such as Mopani Copper Mine and the Cancer Support Network of Zambia in the fight against cancer in the country.

Meanwhile, Cancer Support Network of Zambia National( Director Justina Simpungwe has called for faster access to treatment once a person has been diagnosed with cancer.

Mrs Simpungwe said her organization has continued sensitizing people about Cancer and encouraging them to go for screening.

She said the organization is also teaching women on how to examine themselves for suspected Breast Cancer adding that about 500 women have been trained on the Copperbelt.

She said so far over 1000 women have been reached out in Kitwe and that the Organization was this year targeting to reach 10,000 women.

Mrs Simpungwe said her organisation has also tried to dispel some on-going myths about Cancer in the community during its Cancer awareness programmes in line with this year’s theme which is “Cancer Myths, Get the Facts”.

And Kitwe District Health Management Team Director Chikafuna Banda urged people to go for Cancer screening before they fall ill to ensure effective treatment out- comes in an event that they are diagnosed with the disease.

Dr Banda also called on men to go for circumcision to reduce the risk of passing the type of Human Papilloma Virus, which causes Cervical Cancer, to the female partners during intercourse.

World Cancer Day is annually commemorated on February 4 and this year’s commemorations have been held under the theme ‘Cancer Myths, Get the Facts’.