Free cervical cancer screening clinic opens

CITIMED Hospital in Chitungwiza has opened a cervical cancer screening clinic, which will see women in the town being screened free of charge.

The clinic is being administered in partnership with the Organisation for Public Health Intervention and Development (OPHID) and the Ministry of Health and Child Care.

Citimed managing director Mr Timothy Goche said the hospital has always partnered the Government through public private partnerships.

He said through the facility, the Chitungwiza community was anticipated to benefit from free consultations, screening for non-communicable diseases, including cervical cancer, prostate and breast cancer.

He said the community will also access free HIV-testing and counselling services.

“The aim is to offer a comprehensive package to the community and compliment Government efforts in availing health services to the nation,” said Mr Goche.

Speaking at the official launch of the clinic in Chitungwiza yesterday, OPHID executive director Dr Theonevus Tinashe Chinyanga said the collaboration is expected to bolster national efforts in strengthening the health delivery system, particularly in preventing and controlling cervical cancer.

“We are concerned that cervical cancer is the most common cancer accounting for 33,2 percent of cancers among Zimbabwean women. Women living with HIV are four to five times more likely to develop cervical cancer than women who are HIV-negative,” said Dr Chinyanga.

He said since 2018, OPHID has been collaborating with Government and other private players such as Citimed to integrate cervical cancer screening and treatment within HIV care and treatment program in the 24 districts they operate in.

He said the focus of the initiative is to stop cervical cancer before it starts.

“The process involves finding abnormal cell changes (pre-cancers) and treating them before they have a chance to turn into a cervical cancer. For any woman, early detection is critical to achieving a favourable outcome and leads to more affordable treatment options,” he said.

He said OPHID will also support the opening of four new other sites in Chitungwiza.

Principal director for preventive services in the Ministry of Health and Child Care Dr Gibson Mhlanga who graced the occasion commended the hospital for its corporate social responsibility.